The effect of sodium fluoride on the adenine nucleotide pool in erythrocytes of Wistar rats.

The effect of sodium fluoride on the content of adenine nucleotides, adenine nucleotide pool and energy potential of erythrocytes was studied in male Wistar rats, depending on the dose and time of exposure. Sodium fluoride was administered for 4 and 8 weeks at 4 or 16 ppm through a gastric tube. The concentration of fluorine in serum, ATP, ADP and AMP content in blood and erythrocytes, adenine nucleotide pool and energy potential of erythrocytes were calculated. The results were expressed in SI units and compared statistically with Student's t-test (Statgraphics v. 5.0 software). A significant reduction in the content of ATP and ADP and an increase in the content of AMP in erythrocytes was found after 4 weeks of exposure to 4 or 16 ppm NaF. The adenine nucleotide pool and energy potential were reduced with the smaller dose. After 8 weeks, the ADP content remained significantly reduced with the smaller dose, while the greater dose was associated with a higher energy potential of the cells. Correlations between serum concentration of fluorine, content of adenine nucleotides and adenine nucleotide pool in erythrocytes were noted in all study groups.