Trace element changes in the myocardium during coxsackievirus B3 myocarditis in the mouse

During most infections plasma, concentrations of trace elements change, but it is unclear if this reflects changes in infected target tissues. In coxs ackievirus B3 (CB3) infection, the myocardium is a target in both humans an d mice. The concentrations of 12 trace elements were analyzed by inductivel y coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in the myocardium of sham-inocu lated controls and infected A/J mice 4 and 7 d postinoculation. The size of the inflammatory lesion was positively correlated to the virus content of the heart, as estimated by histopathology and in situ hybridization, respec tively. Iron, cobalt, vanadium, and selenium showed transient changes, wher eas for the other elements, tendencies on d 4 were manifest on d 7. A three fold increase in calcium on d 7 suggests prestages of calcification, wherea s increases in zinc, selenium, and copper may be the result of the accumula tion of immune cells. The magnesium decrease may contribute to the increase d sensitivity to cardiac arrhythmias in myocarditis.