Scanning electron microscopic analysis on lumbar vertebrae cancellous bone of flunride-treated rats

  Objective   To investigate effect of fluoride on the ultrastructure of rat lumbar vertebrae cancellous bone.

  Methods   Sodium fluoride was administered to female Wistar rats through drinking water with three doses of 25, 50 and 100 mg F^-/L for a period of 3 months. Cancellous bone from the second lumbar vertebrae was studied morphologically with a scanning electron microscope.

  Results   The significant structural changes in bone trabecula and collegen fiber were observed in the fluoride-treated animals as compared with normal bone. With the increase of fluoride dose being increased, bone trabecula numbers were increased, the wall of bone trabecula was thickening, and the surface of bone trabecula was rough and uneven. The collegen fibers showed sclerosis-looking changes. Some wide crevices in bone trabecula could be observed under the scanning electron microscope.

  Conclusion   Long-time exposure to high fluoride may cause more bone formation in rat lumbar vertebrae cancellous bone, but the new-formed bones were not well arranged. There were bone trabecula cracks and tiny fracture phenomena of separated quality and volume of bone trabecula in rat lumbar vertebrae cancellous bone could be seen.