The effect of an acute and 7-day administration of magnesium chloride on magnesium concentration in the serum, erythrocytes, and brain of rats

Background: Magnesium (Mg) is one of the most essential cations in human body that is involved in a variety of physiological processes. Despite the variations in the extracellular Mg level, specific transport systems are involved in maintaining the intracellular free Mg at a relatively constant level. We aimed to investigate the changes of Mg level in the brain, erythrocytes, and serum of rats after an acute and subchronic administration of Mg.

Methods: Magnesium chloride (MgCl2) solution was administered intraperitoneally (ip) either once at a dose of 50mg/kg or for 7 days at a single daily dose of 50mg/kg. Blood and brains of animals were collected 15, 30, 60, 120, and 240min after the acute or the last injection. Total Mg concentration in blood serum, erythrocytes, and the whole brain was determined spectrophotometrically.

Results: The highest Mg concentration was detected in the brain tissue, while the most significant changes in Mg level were found in serum.

Conclusions: Neither the brain nor the erythrocyte showed a change in the Mg level considerably after an increase in serum Mg level induced by the acute and subchronic administration of MgCl2 solution.