Effect of fluoride ions on the microanatomy of pancreas in albino rats

The present study was conducted to study the effect of graded doses of Sodium fluoride on the microanatomy of Pancreas in Albino Rats over different periods of time. Sixty male adult albino rats taken from the animal house of Govt. medical College Srinagar were divided randomly into four groups of 15 animals each. Animals of the first three groups were given fluorinated water in various concentrations to drink and fourth group served as the control group getting plain tap water to drink. Animals from each group were sacrificed and examined after 30, 60, and 90 days of therapy and gross and microscopic changes recorded. It was observed that fluorides induce dose and duration dependent microscopic changes in pancreatic tissue ranging from mild edema to gross necrosis. Fluoride ions are known to affect the bones and teeth of human beings for a pretty long time now. On the one hand presence of fluoride ions in drinking water is essential for the normal development of the various organ systems of the body, particularly skeletal system and teeth. But presence of Fluoride ions in food and drinking water has increased worldwide resulting in toxic effects on various tissues particularly the skeletal system and teeth. However it is now a well known fact that the toxic effects of a substance cannot be limited to a particular system only and the present study was focused on dose and duration related effects of fluorides on Pancreas.