Abstract
Medial arteriosclerosis was found in 30 % of male albino rats relegated to a diet of dry whole cow's milk and in 40 % of those given nonfat dry milk beginning at 6 weeks of age. In all instances, the vascular degeneration was accompanied by obstructive renal disease and in most instances by disseminated smooth muscle necrosis in the stomach wall. Complete protection against the arterial and gastric lesions was afforded by diets of (i) reliquefied whole milk; (ii) dry whole milk supplemented with iron, copper, manganese and iodine; (iii) reliquefied whole milk and the trace elements; and (iv) reliquefied nonfat dry milk, sweet cream providing 3.6 % milk fat and the trace elements. A diet of nonfat dry milk, 3.5 % butter and the trace minerals gave almost complete protection, slight arteriosclerotic damage being found on histologic examination in only 1 (3.3 %) of the 30 animals. Neither the induction nor the prevention of the medial arteriosclerosis was related to the blood cholesterol, calcium or phosphorus levels. The present findings support the concept of a pathogenic association between renal damage and the development of medial arteriosclerosis and degenerative gastric lesions in the rat. The suspected mechanism is impaired renal function resulting in deranged mineral metabolism which precipitates increased adrenal cortical and parathyroid activity.
Published Version
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