Variations in Occurrence of Pathologic Calcification, Nephritis, and Amyloidosis in Mice Fed Control and Modified Diets

Abstract

Extensive pathologic calcification was observed in strain A mice 14 and 17 mos. old that had been fed a low cystine-low protein diet. The highest degree of calcification occurred in the lungs of certain animals but calcification was also observed in the aorta and arteries of the other organs sectioned. With the exception of the testes, the lesion was infrequent and irregular in the organs of strain A mice of the same age, fed the high cystine-low protein diet ad lib., high cystine-low protein diet restricted, and Purina dog chow. In the arteries of the testes it occurred in [male][male] fed all these diets but was more frequent in those fed the high cystine diets than in those fed dog chow. Deficient diets exerted an inhibitory effect on the development of the type of nephritis commonly seen in strain A mice. Practically all the mice fed dog chow had nephritis. The incidence was less in those fed the high cystine-low protein ad lib., still less in those fed the same diet restricted, and least in animals fed low cystine-low protein diet. There was a correlation between appearance of nephritis and of amyloidosis.