Hemorrhagic cardiomyopathy and hemothorax in vitamin K deficient mice.
The cause of a fatal condition characterized by hemorrhagic cardiomyopathy, hemothorax, and coagulation defects in hysterectomy-derived male mice was investigated. Microscopic heart alterations included multifocal hemorrhage and necrosis with variable degrees of acute inflammation and fibroplasia that were most severe in the region of the atrioventricular junction. A spontaneous outbreak was arrested by increasing menadione Na-bisulfite (vitamin K) in the feed to 20 ppm. The complete syndrome including hemorrhagic cardiomyopathy was readily reproduced in germ-free male mice given a vitamin K-free diet, and in conventional male and female mice given Warfarin in the diet. We concluded that the cause of this condition was vitamin K deficiency.
Allen
A M
AM
Microbiological Associates, Inc., Rockville, Maryland 20850.
Hansen
C T
CT
Moore
T D
TD
Knapka
J
J
Ediger
R D
RD
Long
P H
PH
D000818:Animals; D001778:Blood Coagulation Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006474:Hemorrhagic Disorders / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D006491:Hemothorax / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D014813:Vitamin K Deficiency / Q000150:complications*; D014859:Warfarin / Q000009:adverse effects
D014812:Vitamin K; D014859:Warfarin