[{
  "type": "article-journal",
  "title": "CHRONIC FLUORIDE EXPOSURE DISRUPTS BRAIN EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX AND INDUCES NEUROTOXICITY IN RATS",
  "author": [
    {
      "family": "Dahiru",
      "given": ""
    },
    {
      "family": "Fatima",
      "given": ""
    },
    {
      "family": "Nawaz",
      "given": ""
    },
    {
      "family": "Riaz",
      "given": ""
    },
    {
      "family": "Abbas",
      "given": ""
    },
    {
      "family": "Shafqat",
      "given": ""
    },
    {
      "family": "Khan",
      "given": ""
    },
    {
      "family": "Khan",
      "given": ""
    },
    {
      "family": "Eqani",
      "given": ""
    }
  ],
  "issued": {
    "date-parts": [[2026]]
  },
  "container-title": "Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences",
  "ISSN": "1018-7081",
  "volume": "36",
  "issue": "6",
  "DOI": "https://doi.org/10.36899/JAPS.2026.6.0152",
  "abstract": "<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fluoride is widely distributed in the environment, and excessive exposure has been associated with adverse effects in humans and animals. However, its effects on extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and collagen-related molecular pathways in the brain remain inadequately characterized. This study investigated the effects of different doses of sodium fluoride on the expression of ECM and collagen-related genes, and histopathological alterations in rat brain tissues. The findings are expected to provide baseline evidence for understanding ECM and collagen-associated alterations in fluoride-induced neurotoxicity. Using complete randomized design, forty Sprague-Dawley rats (20 males and 20 females) were allocated to four groups (n = 10/group; 5 males and 5 females) and exposed to 0.5 ppm (control), 50, 150, and 300 ppm NaF in drinking water for 90 days. Masson&rsquo;s trichrome staining of brain tissues was performed to assess collagen deposition and tissue remodeling, while the expressions of&nbsp;<em>COL1A1</em>,&nbsp;<em>COL1A2</em>, and&nbsp;<em>MMP9</em>&nbsp;were quantified using RT-qPCR. Masson&rsquo;s trichrome staining revealed collagen deposition and extracellular matrix remodeling, accompanied by structural alterations, particularly in brain tissues exposed to higher NaF doses. Chronic NaF exposure<strong>&nbsp;</strong>was associated with dose-dependent downregulation (<em>p&le;0.05</em>) of&nbsp;<em>COL1A1</em>&nbsp;expression (0.69-, and 0.47-fold at 150, and 300 ppm, respectively), compared with the control.&nbsp;<em>COL1A2</em>&nbsp;expression was also downregulated, particularly in male rats (<em>p&le;0.05</em>), with expression levels of 0.39-, 0.85-, and 0.57-fold, respectively.&nbsp;<em>MMP9</em>&nbsp;expression showed a decreasing trend (<em>p&gt;0.05</em>) with increasing NaF exposure in both sexes. These findings suggest that chronic NaF exposure is associated with alterations in brain ECM-related gene expression and tissue architecture. The observed changes provide baseline evidence for further investigation of ECM remodeling and its potential involvement in fluoride-induced neurotoxicity.</p>",
  "publisher": "Pakistan Agricultural Scientists Forum",
  "URL": "https://thejaps.org.pk/AbstractView.aspx?mid=2026-JAPS-82"
}]