3 Feb 2015

Effects of fluoride on the ultrastructure and expression of Type I collagen in rat hard tissue

Highlights

Fluoride can disturbs the collagen fibers arrangement in bone.
Fluoride causes ultrastructural changes in bone.
Fluoride exposure decreases the transcription levels of COL1A1 gene in bone.
Fluoride alters the collagen protein levels in bone.

Abstract

Long-term excessive fluoride (F) intake disrupts the balance of bone deposition and remodeling activities and is linked to skeletal fluorosis. Type I collagen, which is responsible for bone stability and cell biological functions, can be damaged by excessive F ingestion. In this study, Sodium fluoride (NaF) was orally administrated to rat at 150 mg L1 for 60 and 120 d. We examined the effects of excessive F ingestion on the ultrastructure and collagen morphology of bone in rats by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Furthermore, we investigated the effect of F consumption on the expression levels of COL1A1 and COL1A2 in the bone tissues of rats by using quantitative real time (qRT)-PCR, to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of F-induced collagen protein damage. Our results showed that F affected collagen I arrangement and produced ultrastructural changes in bone tissue. Meanwhile, the mRNA expression of COL1A1 and COL1A2 were reduced and the COL I protein levels decreased in the fluorosis group. We concluded that excessive F ingestion adversely affected collagen I arrangement and caused ultrastructural changes in bone tissue. Reduced COL1A1 mRNA expression and altered COL I protein levels may contribute to the skeletal damage resulting from F exposure.

1 comment:

Linda said...

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, making up approximately 70% of the protein in our bodies....





Collagen protein