Abstract
Summary
Studies were conducted to investigate the mechanism by which molybdenum increases the skeletal retention of fluoride. The absorption of fluoride in presence and absence of molybdenum was studied in albino rats ranging in age from weanling to adults, employing isolated gastrointestinal tract segments and the entire tract in the intact animals. These data indicate that age plays a prominent role in absorption of fluoride as affected by molybdenum. In general, the presence of molybdenum significantly (p = 0.05) increases the absorption of fluoride from the first portion of the intestine of older animals and acts inversely in young animals. The reverse is seen in the stomach where molybdenum appears to decrease absorption of fluoride in older animals, and either increases it slightly or has no effect in younger animals. These data suggest that in older animals the presence of molybdenum may increase absorption of fluoride.
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