Curative Effects Of Curcumin On Gonadotropin And Steroid Hormones In Female Rats Exposed To Fluoride Toxicity

Background: Excessive fluoride in our body may result in a slow, progressive, crippling scourge known as fluorosis. However, it becomes toxic at higher doses and induces some adverse effects on number of physiological functions, including reproduction. The reproductive tract is susceptible to disruption by fluoride at concentrations that are sufficient to produce other manifestations. High fluoride exposure is also associated with increased level of follicle stimulating hormone and Leutinizing hormone, decreased estrogen and testosterone level, disturbed androgen to estrogen ratios and estrogen receptor to androgen receptor ratios. Objective:The aim of the present investigation was to study the reproductive alterations in fluoride exposed rats, and to demonstrate the correlation between the concentrations of fluoride in serum, and hormonal changes in fluoride intoxicated rats. The study was also conducted to observe the ameliorative effect of Curcumin on fluoride induced reproductive impairments in female rats. Material and Methods: Experimental protocol: Young female Wistar albino female rats weighing 150 -200g were randomly divided into six rats in each group. The rats in experimental groups received 300 and 600 mg NaF / kg b.w. / day by oral gavage for 40 days. The control animals were administered 1 ml deionized water / kg bw / day for the same duration. Rats treated with NaF for 40 days were posttreated with 200 mg / kg bw / day of Curcumin alone respectively. The blood samples were taken from each rat by the end of experiment. The blood samples collected in heparinized tubes were centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10 minutes to separate the serum and kept at -20°C for the analysis of fluoride and gonadotropin (Follicle stimulating hormones and Leutinizing hormone) and steroid ( Estrogen and Progesterone) hormones. Statistical Analysis: The statistical analysis of the data was performed using statistical package (SPSS) IBM, 20. Results: The serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone (F = 41.254), leutinizing hormone (F= 36.307), estrogen (F= 53.300) and progesterone (F= 220.831) in test rats showed decrease after 40 days of fluoride exposure. Pearson’s bivariate correlation and simple linear regression analysis demonstrated significant negative relationship between levels of fluoride and FSH (r = 0.904, R 2 = 0 .816, Y = 1. 341 21.054 X) (P < 0.01 – 0.0001), LH (r = 0.892, R 2 = 0.796, Y = 1.403 19.822 (P < 0.001-0.01) X), estrogen (r = 0.86, R 2 = 0.739, Y = 60.271797.689 X) (P < 0.0001) and progesterone (r = 0.952, R 2 = 0.906, Y = 30. 761521.421) (P < 0.0001) after 40 days of fluoride exposure. Bonferroni multiple comparison test after ANOVA showed significant decrease in the serum levels of FSH, LH, estrogen and progesterone in all NaF treated groups posttreated with 200 mg/kg bw/day of Curcumin for 20 days. The present study demonstrated significant (P< 0.0001) accumulation of serum fluoride in test rats as compared to control decrease in FSH (P< 0.001), LH, estrogen and progesterone (P< 0.0001) in all NaF treated groups post-treated with 200 mg/kg bw/day of curcumin for 20