Effects of Fluoride on Synaptic Membrane Fluidity and PSD-95 Expression Level in Rat Hippocampus

The objective of this study is to investigate the neurotoxicity of drinking water fluorosis on rat hippocampus. Just weaning male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups and given 15, 30, and 60 mg/L NaF solution and distilled water, respectively, for 9 months. The fluidity of brain synaptic membrane and expression level of postsynaptic density 95 (PSD-95) were tested. Results showed that the fluidity of brain synaptic membrane decreased gradually with increasing of fluoride concentration, and it was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in moderate-fluoride group compared with control group, and expression level of PSD-95 was significantly decreased (P < 0.01) in moderate-fluoride group when compared with that of control group. These results indicate that decrease of synaptic membrane fluidity and PSD-95 expression level may be the molecular basis of central nervous system damage caused by fluoride intoxication; PSD-95 in CA3 region of hippocampus is probably a target molecule for fluoride.