title: Estimation of the upper limit of the free magnesium concentration measured with Mg-sensitive microelectrodes in ferret ventricular muscle: (1) use of the Nicolsky-Eisenman equation and (2) in calibrating solutions of the appropriate concentration.
abstract: Determination of intracellular free magnesium [( Mg]i) with ion-selective Mg microelectrodes filled with the neutral carrier ETH 1117 is critically dependent on the values taken for K and Na in the calibrating solutions, for intracellularly the Mg microelectrodes also respond to these ions. This study was designed to test the influence of K and Na on the measured [Mg]i in ferret ventricular muscle. To estimate the effect of these ions, two methods were used: calculation based on the Nicolsky-Eisenman equation and calibration of the electrodes in solutions containing various concentrations of K and Na. Selectivity coefficients were measured for K and Na by the fixed interference method. While the Nicolsky-Eisenman equation could describe the behavior of an electrode in a given calibrating solution, the effects of changes in either the concentration of K and/or Na could not be predicted by the equation. Comparison between calibrating solutions containing the mean values for K and Na and calibrating solutions containing the lowest measured values for K and Na showed that the mean [Mg]i in ferret ventricle would increase from 0.4 to 0.9 mmol/l. A critical appraisal of the literature values for [Mg]i in muscle tissue suggests that values over 2 mmol/l were either unphysiological or too high for methodological reasons.
authors.affiliation: Physiologisches Institut, Universität Bern, Schweiz.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Blatter
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: McGuigan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002138:Calibration; D002335:Carnivora / Q000378:metabolism*; D005289:Ferrets / Q000378:metabolism*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000032:analysis; D008274:Magnesium / Q000032:analysis*; D008433:Mathematics; D008839:Microelectrodes; D009206:Myocardium / Q000032:analysis*; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D011786:Quality Control; D012964:Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology; D012996:Solutions
chemical_list: D012996:Solutions; D012964:Sodium; D008274:Magnesium; D011188:Potassium