Original article Neurodegenerative changes in different regions of brain , spinal cord and sciatic nerve of rats treated with sodium fluoride

Received 10 January 2011 Revised 26 January 2011 Accepted 28 January 2011 Early online 29 January 2011 Print 31 January 2011 Fluoride is known to cross the blood-brain barrier and alter the structure and function of neural tissue. There are few authoritative reports on neurodegenerative changes in hippocampus, neocortex, cerebellum, spinal cord and sciatic nerve in fluoride intoxication. We report the alterations in the structure of neuronal tissue after chronic administration of sodium fluoride (for 60days) to rats. Twelve male Wistar rats were divided equally into two groups: one group received 20 ppm of sodium fluoride (NaF) and the other group (which served as a control) received tap water for 60days.