Experimental Studies in Calcification

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Abstract
This study deals with the effect of large doses of calciferol on the dentin and pulp of the upper incisors in 9 normal and 38 nephrectomized rats. Calciferol given to normal animals accelerated the rate of calcification, but did not alter the rate of formation of dentin. Nephrec-tomy alone is known to accelerate the rate of dentin. formation. When calciferol was given to nephrectomized rats it was found that the accelerating influence of nephrectomy on dentin formation was unaltered, but the accelerating influence of calciferol on the calcification of predentin was lost. Injns. of calciferol in normal animals, although they raised the blood Ca level, failed to produce any calcifications in the pulp. However, nephrectomized rats have been shown previously to develop ectopic calcifications of the pulp, in spite of normal blood level. Admn. of calciferol did not increase the incidence of ectopic calcification of the pulp in nephrectomized rats. These findings, therefore, indicate that ectopic calcifications are a consequence of focal necrosis due to P retention after nephrectomy.