Genetic analysis of dystrophic cardiac calcification in DBA/2 mice

A DBA/2 x D2B6F1 backcross was produced in order to study the genetic background of pathological soft tissue calcification in the mouse. Calcification was assessed in the myocardium, kidney and tongue. Significant co-segregation was found with the genotype of microsatellite markers on the proximal end of Chromosome 7. This region contains a candidate gene, Hrc, coding for the histidine-rich calcium binding protein in the sarcoplasmatic reticulum. The results support the hypothesis that the gene previously reported to be responsible for DCC (dystrophic cardiac calcification) in C3H mice (1) causes generalized soft tissue calcification in DBA/2 mice.