Abstract
Summary
Costal cartilage of untreated rats contained less than 1% calcium at birth. Calcium content remained constant for the first 2 weeks of life but during the third and fourth weeks it increased to 5–7% of the total dry weight. A microscopic examination of the costal cartilage of 4-week-old rats showed no evidence of bone formation. When sodium fluoride was administered daily to rats, starting soon after birth, the calcification of the costal cartilage was inhibited. The degree of inhibition was proportional to the dose of fluoride (maximum dose 1.5 mmoles/kg of body wt.). The cartilage of the fluoride-treated rats contained more total fatty acids than the cartilage of the untreated rats.
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