The Effects of Fluoride Feeding on the Organic Matrix of Bones and T E E T H of Pigs as Observed by Autoradiography after in Vitro Uptake of Ca

Demineralized sections of normal bones of different species of mammals, including man, show a preferential uptake of Ca 45 at the level of the epiphyseal plate after in vitro incubation in a solution of C#5C12. Though demineralized sections of prebone and predentine also take up Ca 45 under similar circumstances, they do so to a considerably lesser extent (B61anger (I)). By this technique, age differences of animals can be ascertained when tracheal cartilage is used. Sections of the costochondral junctions from rachitic infants differ from similar sections from normal infants. In all instances the Ca 45 uptake appears to be related to the ground substance and possibly to its mucopolysaccharide content. In contrast to the results with C# s are the results when a dilute solution of H2S8504 is used in which the S35-sulfate is bound by the perichondrium and the organic matrix of bone and dentine. So far this uptake of S35-sulfate is unexplained (B61anger, Burke, Tremblay, and B61anger (2)). The results of similar experiments on the hard tissues from pigs fed fluoride are reported here.