Cytogenetic studies of sodium fluoride in mice

The cytogenetic effects of sodium fluoride (NaF) were measuredin mice following administration in the drinking water for 6weeks. Bone fluoride levels were determined and showed a dose-relatedincorporation of fluoride. Micronuclei were measured in peripheralblood erythrocytes following 1 and 6 weeks of NaF administration.Bone marrow cell preparations were examined for the presenceof chromosome aberrations following 6 weeks of treatment; metaphaseand anaphase cells were examined. Anaphase cells were scoredin three independent laboratories, two of which also scoredmetaphase cells from the same slides. No increases in micronucleiwere seen in peripheral erythrocytes at either time point, andno increases in chromosome aberrations were seen in bone marrowcells when metaphase or anaphase cells were examined. A concurrentpositive control, cyclophosphamide, produced significant increasesin peripheral blood cell micronuclei and in chromosome aberrationsin bone marrow cells in metaphase. No increases in aberrationswere seen in the same cyclophosphamide-treated mice when anaphasecells were examined. ⁶To whom correspondence should be addressed