Abstract
The content of calcium in the thoracic aorta, the heart and the kidney was determined in rats with moderate renal failure treated with 1.25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1.25-DHCC) 100 ng/kg/day and Verapamil 20 mg/kg/day. In the aorta the content of calcium was significantly increased in uraemic rats and this increase was significantly augmented after administration of 1.25-DHCC. In the kidney no increase in calcium was seen in rats with uraemia, but treatment with 1.25-DHCC increased the calcium content significantly. This increase was not correlated to the serum calcium x phosphate product, which was almost normal. In the heart no changes in the content of calcium were observed. Verapamil did not influence the effect of 1.25-DHCC. It is concluded that administration of 1.25-DHCC per se may increase the content of calcium in the aorta and kidney in rats with moderate uraemia and possibly in this way sensitize the tissue to the development of tissue calcification.