DOWN-REGULATION OF EXPRESSION OF TYPE 1 COLLAGEN GENE IN DENTIN OF FLUORIDE EXPOSED RATS.

Excessive ingestion of fluoride leads to abnormal mineralization of both enamel and dentin. Mechanisms about enamel fluorosis have been clarified. The knowledge about dentin fluorosis is limited and the mechanism is unclear. The present experiment was aimed to ascertain the excessive ingestion of fluoride on collagen metabolism in dentin of incisor teeth of rats. Rats (n= 12) were divided into two groups. Rats of group I served as control and received only tap water and those of group II received sodium fluoride @ 200 mg/L of drinking water ad lib for a period of 90 days. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to quantify the gene expression levels of Collal in dentin. Significant decreases in expression of Collal gene in the dentin of incisor teeth of fluoride exposed rats was noted at the end of the experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]