THE STABILIZATION OF THE FLUORINE CONCENTRATION OF THE TOTAL ASH OF RATS

Abstract

Rations containing 0.5 and 1.0 mgm. % of added fluorine were fed to growing rats for six months. Representative groups of animals were killed at monthly intervals and analyzed for total fluorine and ash. The fluorine reached a constant concentration in the ash after the rats had been kept two to three months on the 0.5 mgm. % ration and five months on the 1.0 mgm. % ration. Young rats on a low calcium – high fluorine ration stored more fluorine than rats on a similar ration with added calcium. Two groups of young rats consumed the same total amount of fluorine over an eight week period. The first group received the fluorine mixed with the basal ration which was consumed ad libitum. The second group received the basal ration alone and in addition, on one day each week, the amount of fluorine ingested by the first group during the previous week. The fluorine retention was the same in both groups so that irregularity of ingestion had no effect.