Advertisement
Research Article| Volume 63, ISSUE 1, P80-99, January 1964

Download started.

Ok

Metabolism of magnesium in the normal rat

  • Jerry G. Chutkow
    Affiliations
    From the Argonne Cancer Research Hospital (operated by the University of Chicago for the United States Atomic Energy Commission) Chicago, Ill. U.S.A.

    From the Department of Medicine, University of Chicago Chicago, Ill. U.S.A.
    Search for articles by this author
      This paper is only available as a PDF. To read, Please Download here.

      Abstract

      Several aspects of magnesium metabolism in the rat were investigated using Mg28 and very low background level gamma-ray spectrometry. By 120 hours after parenteral injection, young animals (mean weight, 110 grams) excreted an average of 65.8 per cent of the Mg28 in the urine and 12.3 per cent in the feces. Approximately 20 per cent of the daily endogenous magnesium loss occurred via the stool. Two “compartments” with half-lives of 11.5 and 93.0 hours accounted for 36.0 and 51.5 per cent of the isotope, respectively. Within 3 minutes, intravenously administered Mg28 had penetrated a volume exceeding the estimated extracellular space. After an initial rapid fall, the plasma radioactivity declined exponentially, with a Math Eq of 27.5 hours. Absorption of the isotope averaged 53.5 per cent. Acute hypermagnesemia induced by intraperitoneal administration of magnesium quantitatively increased the excretion of carrier in the urine much more than in the feces and had no effect on absorption. While no upper limit to absorption short of diarrhea was found, large amounts of orally administered magnesium did depress the subsequent absorption of Mg28 for at least 7 to 8 hours. Qualitatively, little change in the absorption, excretion, and retention of magnesium was demonstrated with aging. Under the experimental conditions described in these studies, it is concluded that in the rat the major regulator of absorption is the quantity of magnesium in the intestinal lumen rather than the nutritional requirements of the animal; the feces constitute a significant route of endogenous magnesium loss with little obvious adaptive value to an animal faced with detrimental alterations in magnesium balance, and acute endogenous magnesium excesses are handled for all practical purposes by rapid renal excretion and net tissue uptake.
      To read this article in full you will need to make a payment

      Purchase one-time access:

      Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online access
      One-time access price info
      • For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
      • For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'

      Subscribe:

      Subscribe to Translational Research
      Already a print subscriber? Claim online access
      Already an online subscriber? Sign in
      Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect

      References

        • Kruse H.D.
        • Orent E.R.
        • McCollum E.V.
        Studies on Magnesium Deficiency in Animals. I. Symtomatology Resulting From Magnesium Deprivation.
        J. Biol. Chem. 1932; 96: 519
        • Orent E.R.
        • Kruse H.D.
        • McCollum E.V.
        Studies on Magnesium Deficiency in Animals. II. Species Variation in Symptomatology of Magnesium Deprivation.
        Am. J. Physiol. 1932; 101: 454
        • Orent E.R.
        • Kruse H.D.
        • McCollum E.V.
        Studies on Magnesium Deficiency in Animals. VI. Chemical Changes in the Bone With Associated Blood Changes Resulting From Magnesium Deprivation.
        J. Biol. Chem. 1934; 106: 573
        • Tufts E.V.
        • Greenberg D.M.
        The Biochemistry of Magnesium Deficiency. I. Chemical Changes Resulting From Magnesium Deprivation.
        J. Biol. Chem. 1937; 122: 693
        • Charleston D.B.
        A Whole-Body Counting Facility for Biological and Medical Research.
        in: Proc. Symposium on Whole-Body Counting. International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna1962: 189
        • Hine G.J.
        • Brownell G.L.
        Radiation Dosimetry.
        in: Academic Press, Inc, New York1956: 900
        • Orange M.
        • Rhein H.C.
        Microestimation of Magnesium in Body Fluids.
        J. Biol. Chem. 1951; 189: 379
        • Altman P.L.
        • Dittmer D.S.
        Blood and Other Body Fluids.
        Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, Washington, D. C1961
        • Annino J.S.
        Clinical Chemistry, Principles and Procedures.
        in: Little, Brown & Co, Boston1956: 170
        • Snedecor G.W.
        Statistical Methods Applied to Experiments in Agriculture and Biology.
        ed. 5. Iowa State College Press, Ames, Iowa1956
        • Watchhorn E.
        The Effects of Excessive Intake of Magnesium by the Rat, Especially Concerning the Factors Relating to the Production of Renal Calculi.
        J. Hygiene. 1932; 32: 156
        • Hirschfelder A.D.
        Effects of Renal Insufficiency Upon Plasma Magnesium and Magnesium Excretion After Ingestion of Magnesium Sulfate.
        J. Biol. Chem. 1934; 104: 647
        • Smith R.H.
        Calcium and Magnesium Metabolism in Calves. III. Endogenous Faecal Excretion and Absorption of Magnesium.
        Biochem. J. 1959; 71: 306
        • Graham L.A.
        • Caesar J.J.
        • Burgen A.S.V.
        Gastrointestinal Absorption and Excretion of Mg28 in Man.
        Metabolism. 1960; 9: 646
        • Heaton F.W.
        • Parsons F.M.
        The Metabolic Effect of High Magnesium Intake.
        Clin. Sc. 1961; 21: 273
        • Ross D.B.
        In Vitro Studies on the Transport of Magnesium Across the Intestinal Wall of the Rat.
        J. Physiol. 1962; 106: 417
        • Field A.C.
        Balance Trials With Magnesium-28 in Sheep.
        Nature. 1959; 183: 983
        • MacDonald D.C.
        • Care A.D.
        Excretion of Labelled Magnesium by the Sheep.
        Nature. 1959; 184: 736
        • McAleese D.M.
        • Bell M.C.
        • Forbes R.M.
        Magnesium-28 Studies in Lambs.
        J. Nutrition. 1961; 74: 505
        • Borbour H.G.
        • Winter J.E.
        Magnesium Absorption in Dogs and Its Effect Upon the Metabolism of Calcium.
        J. Pharmacol. & Exper. Therap. 1931; 43: 607
        • Aikawa J.K.
        Gastrointestinal Absorption of Mg28 in Rabbits.
        in: ed. 3. Proc. Soc. Exper. Biol. & Med. 100. 1959: 293
        • Zumoff B.
        • Bernstein E.H.
        • Imarisio J.J.
        • Hallman L.
        Radioactive Magnesium Metabolism in Man.
        Clin. Res. 1958; 6 (Abst.): 260
        • Aikawa J.K.
        • Rhoades E.L.
        • Gordon G.S.
        Urinary and Fecal Excretion of Orally Administered Mg28.
        in: ed. 3. Proc. Soc. Exper. Biol. & Med. 98. 1958: 29
        • Silver L.
        • Robertson J.S.
        • Dahl L.S.
        Magnesium Turnover in the Human Studied With Mg28.
        J. Clin. Invest. 1960; 39: 420
        • Fourman P.
        • Morgan D.B.
        Chronic Magnesium Deficiency.
        in: ed. 3. Proc. Nutr. Soc. 21. 1962: 34
        • Smith R.H.
        Absorption of Magnesium in the Large Intestine of the Calf.
        Nature. 1959; 184: 821
      1. Chutkow, J. G.: Unpublished data.

        • Fawcett D.W.
        • Gens J.P.
        Magnesium Poisoning Following an Enema of Epsom Salt Solution.
        J. A. M. A. 1943; 123: 1028
        • Collins E.N.
        • Russell P.W.
        Fatal Magnesium Poisoning Following Magnesium Sulfate, Glycerin, and Water Enema in Primary Megacolon.
        Cleveland Clin. Quart. 1949; 16: 162
        • De Beer E.J.
        • Johnston G.G.
        • Wilson D.W.
        The Composition of Intestinal Secretion.
        J. Biol. Chem. 1935; 108: 113
        • Levey S.
        • Abbott W.E.
        • Krieger H.
        • Davis J.H.
        Metabolic Alterations in Surgical Patients. VII. Studies Involving Iron and Magnesium Metabolism in Patients With Gastrointestinal Drainage.
        J. Lab. & Clin. Med. 1956; 47: 437
        • Mendel L.B.
        • Benedict S.R.
        The Paths of Excretion for Inorganic Compounds. IV. The Excretion of Magnesium.
        Am. J. Physiol. 1909; 25: 1
        • Courtney A.M.
        • Fales H.L.
        Studies on Infant Metabolism and Nutrition: The Excretion by Infants of Magnesium Sulfate Injected Subcutaneously.
        Am. J. Dis. Child. 1915; 9: 318
        • McCance R.A.
        • Widdowson E.H.
        LXIV. The Fate of Calcium and Magnesium After Intravenous Administration to Normal Persons.
        Biochem. J. 1939; 33: 523
        • Smith P.K.
        • Winkler A.W.
        • Schwartz B.M.
        The Distribution of Magnesium Following the Parenteral Administration of Magnesium Sulfate.
        J. Biol. Chem. 1939; 129: 51
        • Pritchard J.A.
        The Use of the Magnesium Ion in the Management of Eclamptogenic Toxemias.
        Surg., Gynec., & Obst. 1955; 100: 131
        • Fitzgerald M.C.
        • Fourman F.
        Experimental Study of Magnesium Deficiency in Man.
        Clin. Sc. 1956; 15: 635
        • Nicolaysen R.
        Untersuchungen ueber die Magnesiumausscheidung bei Hunden: Ein Beitrag zur Physiologie des Colons. III.
        Skandinav. Arch. Physiol. 1936; 73: 75
        • Blaxter K.L.
        • Rook J.A.F.
        Experimental Magnesium Deficiency in Calves. II. The Metabolism of Calcium, Magnesium and Nitrogen and Magnesium Requirements.
        J. Comp. Pathol. 1954; 64: 176
        • Langemann F.W.
        The Metabolism of Magnesium and Calcium by the Rat.
        Arch. Biochem. et Biophys. 1959; 84: 278
        • Chutkow J.G.
        Studies on the Metabolism of Magnesium in the Rat With the Use of Mg28.
        J. Lab. & Clin. Med. 1962; 60 (Abst.): 867
        • Rogers T.A.
        • Mahan P.E.
        Exchange of Radioactive Magnesium in the Rat.
        in: ed. 3. Proc. Soc. Exper. Biol. & Med. 100. 1959: 235
        • Breibert S.
        • Lee J.S.
        • McCoord A.
        • Forbes G.B.
        Relation of Age to Radiomagnesium Exchange in Bone.
        in: ed. 3. Proc. Soc. Exper. Biol. & Med. 105. 1960: 361
        • Aikawa J.K.
        • Rhoades E.L.
        • Harms D.R.
        • Reardon J.Z.
        Magnesium Metabolism in Rabbits Using Mg28 as a Tracer.
        Am. J. Physiol. 1959; 197: 99
        • Aikawa J.K.
        Mg28 Tracer Studies of Magnesium Metabolism in Animals and Human Beings.
        in: Second United Nations International Conference on Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy. ed. 3. Isotopes in Biochemistry and Physiology. vol. 24. United Nations, Geneva1958: 148 (Part 1)
        • Brandt J.L.
        • Glaser W.
        • Jones A.
        Soft Tissue Distribution and Plasma Disappearance of Intravenously Administered Isotopic Magnesium With Observations on Uptake in Bone.
        Metabolism. 1958; 7: 355
        • Womersley R.A.
        Studies on the Renal Excretion of Magnesium and Other Electrolytes.
        Clin. Sc. 1956; 15: 465
        • Chesley L.C.
        • Tepper I.
        Some Effects of Magnesium Loading Upon Renal Excretion of Magnesium and Certain Other Electrolytes.
        J. Clin. Invest. 1958; 37: 1362
        • Barker E.S.
        • Elkington J.R.
        • Clark J.K.
        Studies of the Renal Excretion of Magnesium in Man.
        J. Clin. Invest. 1959; 38: 1733
        • Greenberg D.M.
        • Tufts E.V.
        Variations in the Magnesium Content of the Normal White Rat With Growth and Development.
        J. Biol. Chem. 1936; 114: 135
        • Martin H.E.
        • Jones R.
        The Effect of Ammonium Chloride and Sodium Bicarbonate on the Urinary Excretion of Magnesium, Calcium, and Phosphate.
        Am. Heart J. 1961; 62: 206
        • MacIntyre I.
        • Davidsson D.
        • Leong P.C.
        The Turnover Rate of Magnesium in the Rat Studies in Vivo With Mg28.
        in: ed. 3. Proc. Fourth International Conference of Biochemistry. vol. XV. Pergamon Press, Oxford1960: 160 (Abst.)
        • Barnes B.A.
        • Brownell G.L.
        A Comparison of the Distribution of Magnesium-28 With That of Potassium-42 and Calcium-45.
        in: Proc. Second International Conference on Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy. ed. 3. Isotopes in Medicine. vol. 26. United Nations, Geneva1958: 204
        • Chutkow J.G.
        The Sites of Magnesium Absorption and Excretion in the Intestinal Tract of the Rat.
        J. Lab. & Clin. Med. 1964; 63: 71
        • Dunnett C.W.
        A Multiple Comparison Procedure for Comparing Several Treatments With a Control.
        J. Am. Stat. Assn. 1955; 50: 1096