Histological, histometrical and fluoride electrode studies of the effects of fluoride on the mandibular condyles in growing newborn rats

The effects of fluoride on the mandibular condyles in growing newborn rats were studied by histological, histometrical and fluoride electrode methods. The layer of cartilage of the mandibular condyle in the animals administered 5, 15, 25 and 35 mg/kg of fluoride for 3 weeks displayed a significant increase in thickness when compared with that of the mandibular condyle in the control animals. The thickening of the cartilage layer was proportioned to the amounts of fluoride administered. The volumetric density of cancellous bone of the condyle in the animals administered 25 and 35 mg/kg of fluoride also increased significantly when compared with that of the condyle in the control animals. The trabeculae of cancellous bone of the condyle in these animals contained large amounts of osteoid. The cancellous bone of the condyle in the animals of the four fluoride groups showed a significantly higher fluoride concentration when compared with that of the condyle in the control animals. The fluoride concentration proportionally increased with the amounts of fluoride administered. The results of the present study indicate that the morphologic changes and the fluoride concentrations in the mandibular condyles of rats receiving fluoride were closely correlated with each other.