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Clinical and experimental studies suggest that prenatal exposure to stress can impact the growth and development of offspring. The effect of prenatal exposure to constant light, applied as a chronic stressor, on endochondral ossification of the tibiae of 3-day-old and 15-day-old pups was histomorphometrically evaluated. Pregnant rats were divided into 2 groups: mothers chronically exposed to a 12:12-hour light/light cycle (LL) and control mothers maintained on a 12:12-hour light/dark cycle on days 10-20 of pregnancy. On postnatal days 3 and 15, the pups were weighed and euthanized. The tibiae were resected and histologically processed to obtain sections for hematoxylin and eosin staining (HE) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) histochemistry, in order to perform histomorphometric determinations. The data were statistically analyzed. A significant decrease in hypertrophic cartilage thickness was observed in the tibiae of the 3-day-old (LL: 0.134 ± 0.02 vs. controls: 0.209 ± 0.023 mm; p < 0.01) and 15-day-old (LL: 23.32 ± 3.98 vs. controls: 22.96 ± 1.93 mm; p < 0.05) prenatally stressed pups. The subchondral bone volume was significantly lower in the tibiae of the 3-day-old LL pups (38.83 ± 6.14%) than in the controls (62.83 ± 10.67%; p < 0.01). The decrease in subchondral bone volume and hypertrophic cartilage thickness shows that the normal growth process of the tibia is impaired in prenatally stressed pups.

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Controversy exists over the maternal-fetal passage of fluoride (F -). This work sought to explore different aspects of Fmetabolism during pregnancy and lactation in mothers and offspring. The specific aim was to study Faccumulation in bones and teeth and growth morphometric parameters in the offspring of mothers exposed to high levels of Fin drinking water. Pups aged 10-, 15-and 21-day-old from 2 groups of mothers were used: a) controls mothers (0.3 mg/L F-); b) treated mothers (50mg/L F-). The treatment was performed during the period of pregnancy and lactation. All animals were euthanized and the upper and lower jaw and tibia of mothers were removed for the determination of F -. Incisors diameter, mandibular growth and tibia length were determined on RX digitalized images. Results were analyzed by Student t test. Accumulated Fcontent was significantly higher in the jaws (p <0.05), incisor (p<0.01) and tibia (p <0.05) of mothers exposed to Fcompared to control. In 10-and 15-day-old pups born to treated mothers, Fcontent in jaws did not differ from the control. However, in 21-day-old pups, accumulated Fwas higher (p <0.05). No differences were found in Fcontent or growth parameters in tibia of the offspring in all studied groups. Lower incisor diameter was lower in 21-day-old pups born to mothers exposed 50 mg/L Fcompared to their controls (p<0.01). The results suggest that Faccumulation in calcified tissues of the offspring is lower than in maternal tissues. The passage of Fmother-offspring could occur through milk during lactation. Further studies would help to elucidate the mechanism of this process.

We aimed to investigate the effect of maternal exposure to NaF on mandibular bone microarchitecture and phosphocalcic plasma parameters of the offspring. For this purpose, 10-, 15-, and 21-day-old pups (n = 6-8 per group) from two groups of mothers, control and NaF 50mg/L treated dams, were used. Plasma calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) levels and alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) were measured. Fluoride concentration (F) in bone and in stomach content was measured using potentiometry after isothermal distillation. Morphometric, histological, and histomorphometric analyses of the jaw bones were performed. Plasma Ca and P levels and ALP activity increased in 10-day and decreased in 21-day-old pups from NaF-treated mothers. Fluoride concentration in stomach content samples of 15- and 21-day-old nursing pups from mothers exposed to NaF in their drinking water was higher compared to that observed in control dam offspring. Mandibular F content was higher in 21-day-old pups born to F-exposed dams compared to those observed in age-matched control pups. Mandibular area increased in 21-day-old pups born to treated mothers as compared to controls. Mandibular bone volume BV/TV (%) was higher in offspring from NaF-exposed dams than in controls at all the studied times. The increase in bone volume after exposure to F was concomitant with the increase in trabecular thickness and the decrease in trabecular separation. Altogether, our results showed that exposure to NaF during gestation and lactation increased mandibular area and bone volume of pups, with concomitant changes in phosphocalcic parameters associated with the bone modeling process.