Fluoride is an essential trace element for the maintenance of bone health owing to its capacity to stimulate proliferation and osteoblastic activity that can lead to increased bone formation. However, excessive sodium fluoride (NaF) intake can impair carbohydrate metabolism thereby promoting hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and changes in insulin signaling. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of chronic treatment with NaF in bone metabolism, insulin signaling, and plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), osteocalcin (OCN), and fluoride in ovariectomized rats. Thirty-two ovariectomized Wistar rats were randomly distributed into two groups: Control (OVX-C) and those undergoing treatment with NaF (50mg F/L) in drinking water for 42days (OVX-F). Glucose and insulin levels were assessed, followed by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Akt serine phosphorylation was evaluated by western blotting. Plasma concentrations of TNF-α and OCN were evaluated by ELISA. The left and right tibia was collected for immunohistochemical and histomorphometric analysis, respectively. Chronic treatment with NaF promoted insulin resistance, decreased insulin signal, increased plasma concentration of insulin, fluoride, OCN and TNF-α, decreased trabecular bone area of the tibia, and caused changes in bone metabolism markers in ovariectomized rats. These results suggest the need for caution in the use of NaF for the treatment of osteoporosis, especially in postmenopausal woman.

Osteoporosis is a systemic disease characterized by bone degradation and decreased bone mass that promotes increased bone fragility and eventual fracture risk. Studies have investigated the use of sodium fluoride (NaF) for the treatment of osteoporosis. However, fluoride can alter glucose homeostasis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of NaF intake (50 mg/L) from water on the following parameters of ovariectomized (OVX) rats: (1) tyrosine phosphorylation status of insulin receptor substrate (pp185 (IRS-1/IRS-2)) in white adipose tissue; (2) insulin sensitivity; (3) plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, TNF-α, IL-6, osteocalcin, calcium, and fluoride; (4) bone density and biomechanical properties in the tibia; and (5) tibia histomorphometric analysis. Fifty-two Wistar rats (2 months old) were ovariectomized and distributed into two groups: control group (OVX-C) and NaF group (OVX-F), which was subjected to treatment with NaF (50 mg/L) administered in drinking water for 42 days. The chronic treatment with NaF promoted (1) a decrease in pp185 (IRS-1/IRS-2) tyrosine phosphorylation status after insulin infusion in white adipose tissue and in insulin sensitivity; (2) an increase in the plasma concentration of insulin, fluoride, osteocalcin, calcium, triglyceride, VLDL-cholesterol, TNF-α, and IL-6; (3) a reduction in the trabecular width, bone area, stiffness, maximum strength, and tenacity; (4) no changes in body weight, food and water intake, plasma glucose, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, bone mineral content, and bone mineral density. It was concluded that chronic treatment with NaF (50 mg/L) in OVX rats causes a decrease in insulin sensitivity, insulin signaling transduction, and biochemical, biomechanical, and histomorphometric bone parameters.

RESUMO -Estresse pode ser definido como um fator externo, que exerce influência desvantajosa sobre a planta. Em regiões tropicais, as culturas agrícolas sofrem estresse abiótico principalmente por períodos de deficiência de água e altas temperaturas. A tolerância cruzada permite as plantas se aclimatarem a uma gama de diferentes estresses após exposição a um estresse específico. O objetivo neste trabalho foi avaliar a tolerância ao estresse hídrico durante a germinação das sementes de feijão sob influência da tolerância cruzada induzida por choque térmico. As sementes de feijão cultivar 'IAPAR 81' foram submetidas ao processo de embebição, em substrato papel umedecido com água pura sob temperatura de 20ºC por 24 horas. A seguir, parte foi mantida nessa temperatura e parte transferida para o choque frio por 24horas a 7ºC no ensaio 1 e 13ºC no ensaio 2 e outra parte para o choque quente por 24 horas a 38oC no ensaio 1 e 33oC no ensaio 2, sem troca do substrato. Tanto as sementes que passaram pelo choque como as que não passaram (controle) foram transferidas para substrato papel simulando diferentes potenciais hídricos, 0; -0,6; -0,9 e -1,2MPa, no ensaio 1 e 0;-0,3; -0,6; -0,9 e 1,2MPa no ensaio 2, induzidos por manitol nas seguintes concentrações: 0; 22,29; 44,58; 66,87 e 89,17 g.L -1 . Os tratamentos foram avaliados através da porcentagem de germinação, plântulas anormais, sementes mortas e avaliações do desenvolvimento (massa seca da parte aérea, massa seca de raiz, massa seca total e relação raiz/parte aérea). O melhor desempenho das sementes que passaram por choque, de 7oC por 24h ou de 33oC por 24h, à restrição hídrica no início do desenvolvimento, permite afirmar que ocorre indução de tolerância cruzada e que esta pode ser induzida no início do processo de embebição em sementes de feijão.Termos para indexação: choque frio, choque quente, deficiência hídrica, Phaseolus vulgaris L. CROSS TOLERANCE INDUDED BY TERMIC SHOCK IN THE BEAN SEED GERMINATIONABSTRACT -Stress could be defined as an external factor that may have some disadvantageous influence on the plant. In tropical regions, crops suffer abiotic stress especially due to water deficit and high temperature. Cross tolerance allows the plants to be acclimated after a short exposure to a specific stress. The objective of this study was water stress tolerance during bean seed germination influenced by heat shock induced cross tolerance. Seed of the common bean cv 'IAPAR 81' were submitted to imbibition in substrate paper with pure water at 20ºC for 24h. One third of the seeds 1 Submetido em 08/08/2007. Aceito para publicação em 13/01/2009. Parte da Dissertação de Mestrado do primeiro autor apresentada a UNOESTE.2 Eng. Agr., pós graduando do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Agronomia