Influence of excessive fluoride consumption on the severity of dystrophic cardiac calcification in DBA/2 mice

Soft tissue calcifications in inbred laboratory mice are frequently observed and are often associated with dystrophic cardiac calcinosis (DCC). We tested the hypothesis that an excessive intake of fluoride would inhibit pathological calcifications in DCC-susceptible mice. A diet containing either a high (200 mg F/kg added to the diet) or low fluoride content (no F added) was fed to both weanling and retired breeder DBA/2 mice. The high-fluoride diet reduced feed intake and body weight gain when given after weaning. It was found that a high fluoride intake effectively reduces soft tissue calcifications in young mice, but not in retired breeders. Because DCC in mice is a pathological finding that could interfere with certain experimental procedures, it is suggested that the optimum fluoride concentration in the diet for mice of susceptible strains should be established.