Effect of fluoride exposure on kidney damage in rats: biochemical and histopathological changes

• Published in: Toxicological and environmental chemistry Vol. 107; no. 3; pp. 363 - 382
• Main Authors: Validandi, Vakdevi, Dheeravath, Srinivas, Kurella, Srinivasu, Jamalpur, Ravi Prakash, Mullapudi Venkata, Surekha, Gorain, Sumitra, Sagubandi, Yamuna, Narayan Sinha, Sukesh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 16.03.2025; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: acute tubular injury; biomarker; Biomarkers; blood serum; Body weight; body weight changes; Body weight gain; chronic kidney disease; Creatinine; Cystatin C; Damage; Degeneration; Drinking water; environmental science; Fluoride; Fluorides; Food; Food intake; Histopathology; Kidneys; KIM-1; Nephritis; Organ weight; tissue weight; Toxicity; Urea; Uric acid
• ISSN: 0277-2248; 1029-0486; 1029-0486
• DOI: 10.1080/02772248.2025.2469063

Kidney is one of the most sensitive organs affected with chronic fluoride (F - ) exposure. The present study was planned to demonstrate the effect of F - on kidney damage. Wistar-NIN rats (n = 18) were categorized into group I, II and III. Group I (control) was treated with normal water, group II and III were treated with 50 and 100 ppm F - in drinking water respectively, ad libitum for 6 months. Water and food intake, body weight, and food efficiency ratio, serum and urinary biomarkers of kidney damage such as creatinine, uric acid, urea, KIM-1, cystatin C along with kidney histopathology were analyzed. The results revealed decrease in the water and food intake, body weight gain, food efficiency ratio and organ weight ratio. The increased serum and kidney F - levels had a significant increase in serum and urinary creatinine, urea, uric acid and KIM-1. Histopathological studies of the kidney revealed focal interstitial nephritis (FIN) along with moderate to severe tubular degeneration, mild or low-grade inflammatory infiltration, moderate tubular dilation. The outcome of the study demonstrates that the F - toxicity causes detrimental effects on kidney, particularly in the tubular region as evident by the elevated levels of serum and urinary KIM-1 and histopathology.