Abstract

Drinking water is a major source of fluoride and aluminium intake and these substances are known to cross the blood-brain barrier and alter the structure and function of neural tissues. One concern that has not been fully investigated is the link between fluoride, aluminium and their effects on the central nervous system. Twenty female Wistar rats were used for this investigation. Fifteen which served as the treatment group were given sodium fluoride, aluminium fluoride and their combination. The control was given distilled water for 21 days. The cerebellum was excised and histological investigations were carried out using routine Haematoxylin and Eosin, Periodic-acid Schiff and Cresyl violet stains. Results revealed appearance of vacuolar spaces, cellular fragmentation and ghost-like appearance of neuronal cells of the treatment group, while the cells of the control group appeared intact with regular cell morphology and intact cellular integrity.

Key words: Sodium fluoride, aluminium chloride, cerebellum, neurotoxicity