Ultrastructural evaluation of oocytes during fluorosis in rat ovarian follicles

Fluoride is a well-known environmental pollutant and its effect on human health has long been of interest to biomedical researchers. Various studies have shown that fluoride causes adverse effects on the fertility. Wistar albino female rats weighing 150-200 g were randomly divided into six rats in each group. The rats in experimental groups treated with 300 and 600 mg NaF/kg bw/day by oral gavage for 40 days. The present investigation focuses on the ovary of rat treated with sodium fluoride and its amelioration by curcumin. The results revealed that the sodium fluoride exposure to female rats treated with 300 mg NaF/kg bw/day, the surface epithelium had less number of ruffles and blebs of the plasma membrane. There was abrasion of ovarian surface epithelium. In rats treated with 600 mg/kg bw/day NaF, the cuboidal shape of the surface epithelium were changed into elongated appearance. The cells were devoid of microvilli, blebs and ruffles. After administration of curcumin, many follicles in different stages of development were visible. The ovarian surface epithelium showed normal surface epithelium with improvement in the shape of cuboidal cells.