Present methods of inducing calcinosis and atherosclerosis and perspectives of pharmacologic prevention

: In the light potential preventive pharmacotherapy of experimental atherosclerosis, attention has been focused on the effect of some substances tested in models that may represent human atherosclerosis. Calcium antagonists of various chemical groups administered simultaneously prevent the accumulation of calcium in cells under conditions of experimental calcinosis and atherosclerosis, as e.g. in spontaneously hypertensive rats, in rabbits on cholesterol diet, at administration of high doses of vitamin D, and on using the cuff technique. The results indicate that substances involved in the metabolism of calcium affect basic pathogenic processes of calcinosis and atherosclerosis.