Fluoride Directly Stimulates Proliferation and Alkaline Phosphatase Activity of Bone-Forming Cells

Abstract

Fluoride is one of the most potent but least well understood stimulators of bone formation in vivo. Bone formation was shown to arise from direct effects on bone cells. Treatment with sodium fluoride increased proliferation and alkaline phosphatase activity of bone cells in vitro and increased bone formation in embryonic calvaria at concentrations that stimulate bone formation in vivo.