Objective: This study was conducted to study the effects of sodium fluoride (NaF) on rat renal apoptosis and proliferation, the antagonistic effect of selenium-zinc preparation (Se-Zn) to NaF.
Methods: Wistar rats were provided with distilled water containing NaF (50 mg/L) and administered by gavage with different dosed of Se-Zn for six months. Kidney cell apoptosis and the cell cycle of proliferation were detected by TUNEL (TdT-mediated dUTP Nick End Labelling) and flow cytometry.
Results: NaF caused rat renal apoptosis, reduce the cell number of G(2)/M period in cell cycle and decrease the relative content of DNA significantly. Se-Zn inhibited the effects of NaF on apoptosis and increased the cell number of G(2)/M period in cell cycle, but failed to increase relative content of DNA.
Conclusion: It was suggested that NaF could induce apoptosis and change the cell cycle in rat renal cells and Se-Zn could antagonize apoptosis and the changes of cell cycle induced by NaF.