Effects of reserpine on cardiac calcification in DBA mice

The effect of daily injections of 0.1 mg/kg reserpine (Serpasil) on pathologic calcification of cardiac tissue in 12- to 16-month-old DBA strain mice was studied. After 3 weeks of daily injections, the tissue calcium levels were decreased significantly from control levels of 18.6 (atrial) to 13.2 and 20.1 (ventricular) to 12.8 meq Ca++/kg fat-free dry weight respectively. Histological observations also showed a decrease in spontaneous calcification of cardiac tissue in the reserpinized mice. Frequent findings in the calcified areas of the reserpine-treated mice were: less extensive calcification, a more granular appearance of the mineral, an associated inflammatory reaction, and adjacent areas of myocardial necrosis.