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Fluoride activates microglia, secretes inflammatory factors and influences synaptic neuron plasticity in the hippocampus of rats
Yang L, Jin P, Wang X, Zhou Q, Lin X, Xi S.. Neurotoxicology, 2018-09-28
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Epidemiological studies have reported that highly fluoridated drinking water may significantly decrease the Intelligence Quotient (IQ) of exposed children. It is thought that synaptic plasticity is the basis of learning and memory skills in developing children. However, the effect on synaptic plasticity by activated microglia induced via fluoride treatment is less clear.
Key findings
- It is thought that synaptic plasticity is the basis of learning and memory skills in developing children.
- However, the effect on synaptic plasticity by activated microglia induced via fluoride treatment is less clear.
- Our previous research showed that fluoride ions activated microglia which then released pro-inflammatory cytokines.
- In this study, hippocampal-dependent memory status was evaluated in rat models sub-chronically exposed to fluoride in their drinking water.
Why it matters
In rats sub-chronically exposed to fluoride in drinking water, fluoride activated microglia, released pro-inflammatory cytokines and influenced synaptic neuron plasticity in the hippocampus. This is an animal study of fluoride exposure, so it does not provide evidence about treating, curing or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 35/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Neurotoxicology) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | NeuroToxicology: journal h-index 142 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2018 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Laboratory or animal study (title names “rats”) — scores zero |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 60 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 6.0 citations a year over 10 year(s) since 2018 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 2.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 22 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Shuhua Xi: h-index 29 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | China Medical University: institution h-index 368 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 30273629) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 35 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Yang, L., Jin, P., Wang, X., Zhou, Q., Lin, X., & Xi, S. (2018). Fluoride activates microglia, secretes inflammatory factors and influences synaptic neuron plasticity in the hippocampus of rats. Neurotoxicology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuro.2018.09.006
Vancouver
Yang L, Jin P, Wang X, Zhou Q, Lin X, Xi S. Fluoride activates microglia, secretes inflammatory factors and influences synaptic neuron plasticity in the hippocampus of rats. Neurotoxicology. 2018. doi:10.1016/j.neuro.2018.09.006. PMID: 30273629.
BibTeX
@article{yang2018-30273629,
author = {Yang, L. and Jin, P. and Wang, X. and Zhou, Q. and Lin, X. and Xi, S.},
title = {{Fluoride activates microglia, secretes inflammatory factors and influences synaptic neuron plasticity in the hippocampus of rats}},
journal = {Neurotoxicology},
year = {2018},
doi = {10.1016/j.neuro.2018.09.006},
pmid = {30273629},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuro.2018.09.006}
}
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