Experimental Dental Caries V. The Effects of Desalivation and Castration on Caries and Fluorine Storage in the Rat

Abstract

The effects of desalivation and castration on dental caries and the storage of fluorine in the skeletal system are reported. Desalivation resulted in a marked increase in the incidence and severity of dental caries. Castration, on the other hand, in both sexes reduced caries development significantly. A sex difference in the storage of fluorine was noted, with females storing higher amounts than males. Fluorine storage under ad libitum feeding conditions indicated less fluorine in both males and females in the skeletons of the desalivated, castrated or combined desalivated-castrated groups, but under paired-feeding conditions the differences in fluorine storage between the desalivated and control groups disappeared. Fluorine storage in desalivated animals appears to be related to body growth and food ingestion in both males and females, but the fluorine storage data for a castrated and for a combined desalivated-castrated female group indicate that additional information is needed.