Fluoride-induced changes in the tooth glycosaminoglycans: an in vivo study in the rabbit

Effect of high fluoride ingestion on the tooth matrix glycosaminoglycans was studied in rabbits administered 10 mg NaF/kg body weight orally at 24-h intervals for a period of 9 months. Fluoride-treated tooth showed a significant reduction in glycosaminoglycan content as compared to the normal tooth. Sephadex G-75 chromatography and DEAE-cellulose ion exchange chromatography revealed the presence of small molecular weight glycosaminoglycan molecules and an increase in the charge density heterogeneity in the sulphated glycosaminoglycans of the fluoride-treated rabbit tooth as compared to the controls. These changes may be related to the dedifferentiated tooth matrix and an increase in the dermatan sulphate content in the fluoride-treated tooth matrix reported earlier.