[Spontaneous heart failure in BALB/c mice]

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Research
• Animal Models
• Pathology

Background:

• BALB/c mice commonly exhibit cardiac white spots.
• The incidence and nature of these spots in BALB/c mice require detailed investigation.
• Comparison with a control mouse strain is essential for understanding the phenomenon.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between age and the incidence of cardiac white spots in BALB/c mice.
• To compare the occurrence of cardiac white spots in BALB/c mice with DDY mice.
• To characterize the histopathological nature of cardiac white spots and explore potential underlying mechanisms.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal observation of BALB/c and DDY male mice from 0.4 to 30 weeks of age.
• Macroscopic examination for cardiac white spots, particularly on the right ventricle.
• Histopathological analysis of cardiac spots and examination of parathyroid glands, bone marrow, and organ weights.
• Measurement of serum calcium concentrations.

Main Results:

• Cardiac white spots first appeared in BALB/c mice at three weeks (30%) and peaked at nine weeks (88%).
• DDY mice showed no cardiac spots throughout the study period.
• Histopathology revealed dystrophic calcinosis; BALB/c mice had increased heart and kidney weights but normal serum calcium and parathyroid/bone marrow histology.
• The condition appears to be genetically controlled and age-related.

Conclusions:

• BALB/c mice spontaneously develop cardiac white spots (dystrophic calcinosis) with age.
• Genetic susceptibility, not systemic calcium dysregulation, likely underlies this condition in BALB/c mice.
• BALB/c mice serve as a relevant model for studying spontaneous myocardial diseases.