Effects of a single intravenous dose of sodium fluoride on plasma electrolytes and metabolites in rats, rabbits, and cockerels.

This study assessed the effect of a single intravenous dose of sodium fluoride (20 mg/kg body wt.) on plasma ionic fluoride and on some other plasma electrolytes and metabolites in rats, rabbits, and cockerels. At any given time following sodium fluoride administration, the plasma ionic fluoride was highest in rabbits and lowest in cockerels. The rate of removal of fluoride from plasma was slower in rabbits as compared with that in the other two species. Plasma sodium, chloride, total protein, albumin, total globulins, and osmolality were not significantly altered by sodium fluoride in any of these three species. However, plasma phosphate (inorganic), urea, creatinine, and glucose were elevated, and plasma calcium was reduced in the rats and the rabbits, but none was significantly altered in the cockerels. The analyses indicated that species variability does exist in fluoride toxicity.