title: Effect of varying levels of magnesium during gestation and lactation on humoral immune response and tissue minerals in rats.
abstract: Weanling rats were maintained on diets which were Mg-adequate (49 mmol Mg/kg), groups 1 and 3, or Mg-deficient (8 mmol Mg/kg), groups 2 and 4, for 8 weeks of growth. During breeding, gestation, and lactation, groups 3 and 4 received diets supplemented with 41 mmol Mg/kg. Femur and cardiac Mg in group 2 dams was reduced, confirming that Mg deficiency was present. Thymic weight from dams and pups and numbers of plaque-forming cells in pups in group 1 were higher than in other groups while splenic weight in pups was lowest in group 2. Results indicate that maternal magnesium deficiency impaired immunocompetence in offspring. Regardless of the presence or absence of pregestational magnesium deficiency, magnesium supplementation also was associated with depressed immune function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kubena
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Cohill
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: McMurray
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000378:metabolism*; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001835:Body Weight; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D007774:Lactation; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008274:Magnesium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D008275:Magnesium Deficiency / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium