Summary
The purpose of this study was to determine whether total serum calcium, parathyroid gland structure, and/or levels of parathyroid hormone, 1,25 and 24,25 DHCC, are altered in pigs with dental and skeletal fluorosis. Eight experimental animals receiving 2 mg F−/kg b.w. per day from age 8–14 months were compared with eight controls. Concentrations of plasma fluoride and total plasma calcium were assessed at intervals throughout the experiment and during a 48 hour period at day 110–111 of the experiment. At the same time, concentrations of immunoreactive parathyroid hormone were measured using a homologous labeled antibody for porcine hormone, and a radioimmunoassay was used to assess concentrations of 1,25 DHCC and 24,25 DHCC. Parathyroid tissue volumes were assessed at the end of the experiment by quantitative histology using volumetry and point counting. Plasma fluoride increased from 0.0007±0.0001 mmol/liter to 0.0127±0.002 mmol/liter in pigs receiving fluoride. In spite of this increase, total plasma calcium remained the same throughout the experiment. Volumes of parathyroid tissue, and levels of circulating parathyroid hormone 1,25 DHCC and 24,25 DHCC, were not significantly changed. It was therefore concluded that disturbance of calcium homeostasis is not an obligatory finding in dental and skeletal fluorosis and consequently does not play an essential role in the pathogenesis of these hard tissue lesions.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Faccini JM, Care AD (1965) Effects of sodium fluoride on the ultrastructure of the parathyroid glands of the sheep. Nature 207:1399–1401
Teotia SPS, Teotia M (1973) Secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients with endemic skeletal fluorosis. Br Med J 1:637–640
Bernstein DS, Cohen P (1967) Use of sodium fluoride in the treatment of osteoporosis. J Clin Endocrinol 27:197–210
Reutter FW, Siebenmann R, Pajarole M (1970) Fluoride in osteoporosis. In: Vischer TL (ed) Fluoride in medicine. H. Huber, Bern, pp 143–152
Larsen MJ, Melsen F, Mosekilde L, Christensen MF (1978) Effects of a single dose of fluoride on calcium metabolism. Calcif Tissue Res 26:199–202
Fejerskov O, Larsen MJ, Josephsen K, Thylstrup A (1979) Effects of long term administration of fluoride on plasma fluoride and calcium in relation to forming enamel and dentin in rats. Scand J Dent Res 87:98–104
Rosenquist JB, Lorentzon PR, Boquist LL (1983) Effect of fluoride on parathyroid activity of normal and calcium-deficient rats. Calcif Tissue Int 35:533–537
Parfitt AM (1976) The state of the bones in uremic hyperparathyroidism—the mechanisms of skeletal resistance to PTH in renal failure and pseudohypoparathyroidism and the role of PTH in osteoporosis, osteopetrosis and osteofluorosis. Metabolism 25:1157–1188
Richards A, Kragstrup J, Josephsen K, Fejerskov O (1985) Dental fluorosis developed during stage of enamel maturation. J Dent Res (abstract) 64:1142
Wenzel A, Kragstrup J, Richards A (1984) Radiologic assessment of bone maturity and cortical thickness in experimental osteofluorosis in the young pig. Arch Oral Biol 29:745–749
Kragstrup J, Richards A, Fejerskov O (1984) Experimental osteofluorosis in the domestic pig. A histomorphometric study of vertebral trabecular bone. J Dent Res 63:885–889
Fry BW, Taves DR (1970) Serum fluoride analysis with the fluoride electrode. J Lab Clin Med 75:1020–1025
Willis JB (1960) Determination of calcium and magnesium in blood serum by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Analyt Chem 16:259–262
Care AD, Ross R, Pickard DW, Weatherley AJ, Garel JM, Manning RM, Allgrave J, Papapoulos S, O'Riordan JLH (1982) Calcium homeostasis in the fetal pig. J Dev Physiol 4:85–106
Angmar-Månsson B, Whitford GM (1984) Enamel fluorosis related to plasma F levels in the rat. Caries Res 18:25–32
Spencer GR, El-Sayed FI, Kroening GH, Pell KL, Shoup N, Adams DF, Franke M, Alexander JE (1971) Effects of fluoride, calcium and phosphorus on porcine bone. Am J Vet Res 32:1751–1774
Jowsey J, Riggs BL, Kelley PJ (1979) Fluoride in the treatment of osteoporosis. In: Johansen E, Taves DR, Olsen TO (eds) Continuing evaluation of the use of fluoride, Westview Press Inc, Colorado, pp 111–123
Fejerskov O, Richards A, Josephsen K (1983) Pathogenesis and biochemical findings of dental fluorosis in various species. In: Shupe JL, Petersen HB, Leone NC (eds) Fluorides. Effects on vegetation, animals and humans. Pergamon Press, Utah, pp 312–326
N.R.C. 1979 Nutrient requirements of swine. In: Nutrient requirements of domestic animals, 8th ed. Natl Acad Pr, Washington, DC
Baker KL (1974) Fluoride and tetracycline-induced changes in rat serum calcium and phosphate levels. Arch Oral Biol 19:717–723
Simpson E, Rao LGS, Evans RM, Wilkie W, Rodger JC, Lakhari A (1980) Calcium metabolism in a fatal case of sodium fluoride poisoning. Ann Clin Biochem 17:10–14
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Andersen, L., Richards, A., Care, A.D. et al. Parathyroid glands, calcium, and vitamin D in experimental fluorosis in pigs. Calcif Tissue Int 38, 222–226 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02556714
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02556714