Apoptotic cell death following exposure to fluoride in rat alveolar macrophages

Since inhaled fluoride is implicated in the acute respiratory failure, cytotoxic effects of fluoride on alveolar macrophages, primary target cells of inhaled toxicants, were investigated. The LC(50) of sodium fluoride was estimated to be 0.41 mM, while 1 mM sodium chloride, bromide and iodide had virtually no effects on the viability of alveolar macrophages. Photomicroscopic observation revealed that nuclei of the fluoride-exposed alveolar macrophages were fragmented. The ladder formation was observed when DNA isolated from fluoride-exposed alveolar macrophages was electrophoresed in agarose gel. These results suggest that cytotoxicity of fluoride is associated with apoptosis in rat alveolar macrophages.