Toxicity of Fluoridated Water on Biochemical Markers and Male Reproductive Function in Rats
Author : Dr. Mamta Solanki and Dr. Deepmala Solanki
Abstract :
Healthy adult male albino rats of the Wistar strain (Rattus norvegicus) were exposed to fluoride (5.8 ppm F) contaminated drinking water for 270 days. The body and organ weights and tissue biochemistry of the testis, epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicle, and ventral prostate were carried out. The result revealed that fluoride water ingestion for a longer duration caused a reduction in body and reproductive organs (testis, cauda epididymis, seminal vesicle, and coagulating gland) weight compared to the control group. The concentration of protein, sialic acid, fructose, ascorbic acid, glycogen, and enzyme activity of acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase declined in the reproductive organs studied. However, the cholesterol concentration of the testis was found to be increased significantly following fluoride water treatment. These findings suggest that long-term fluoride exposure negatively affects male reproductive health by altering organ weight and key biochemical markers.
Keywords :
Fluoride contaminated water, testis, biochemical changes, reproductive health.
