BIOCHEMICAL EFFECTS Mechanisms of sodium fluoride-induced endothelial cell barrier dysfunction: role of MLC phosphorylation NaF, a potent G protein activator and Ser/Thr phosphatase inhibitor, sig-

s 47 Fluoride 36 (1) 2003 control (group 2). Administration of either vitamins C (50 mg/kg body weight/day), D (2 ng/0.2 mL olive oil/animal/day) or a combination of vitamins C+D+E along with NaF caused significant amelioration in body weight and feed consumption, as well as glucose, protein, sodium and potassium concentrations in the serum of Pand F(1)-generation rats compared with the NaF-only treated group. Withdrawal of NaF treatment during lactation caused significant amelioration in feed consumption (days 15-21 only), sodium, potassium, glucose and protein concentrations in the serum of both Pand F(1)-generation rats. Co-treatment with vitamin E (2 mg/0.2 mL olive oil/animal/day) caused significant amelioration in body weight (days 15 and 20 of gestation only), sodium, potassium, glucose (only in P-generation females) and protein (only in P-generation female) concentrations in the serum of rats than in NaF-treated rats alone. It is concluded that co-treatment with vitamins C, D and C+D+E were found more effective in ameliorating NaF-induced effects than vitamin E and withdrawal of NaF treatment during lactation. Authors: Verma RJ, Guna Sherlin DM. For Correspondence: Department of Zoology, University School of Sciences, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad 380 009, India. E-mail: [email protected]