The effect of zinc on vitamin D3-induced cardiac necrosis

Multifocal heart muscle necrotic lesions in rats were induced with high oral doses of vitamin D3 (300,000 iu/rat in three daily doses 100 000 iu each). The calcium content increased over 100 fold in the hearts of rats receiving vitamin D3. Parenteral pre-treatment with zinc sulphate (50 or 200 mg/rat in ten daily doses) resulted either in a reduction or in the total prevention of myocardial lesions on macroscopic, light and electron microscopic examination. The effect of zinc was dose-dependent. The administration of various doses of zinc sulphate resulted in a gradual normalization of heart calcium content.