title: Pregnancy-induced hypertension and low birth weight in magnesium-deficient ewes.
abstract: The fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality from the hypertensive disease states of pregnancy is a major problem. While much is known about the syndrome, the cause has been elusive. The ewe was chosen to test a hypothesis that depletion of magnesium may be involved. Twelve Finnish ewes were subjected to low magnesium diets with half given magnesium in the water. Tests included measurement of blood pressure in the waking state and by noninvasive technique. Magnesium levels were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in the plasma and tissue of the ear tips. Findings included significant elevation of arterial blood pressure, reduction in fetal weight with pathologic confirmation of placental and renal lesions which were similar to those seen in the human condition. Significant lowering of both plasma and tissue of magnesium was noted. The hypothesis was supported and extended to include possible interaction with prostacyclin and thromboxane as intermediaries in a hypomagnesic coagulative angiopathy. This entity would also explain the association of migraine in the eclamptic and preeclamptic syndrome reported by previous authors. The success of parenteral magnesium in the treatment of these human conditions is therefore more than purely empiric.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001835:Body Weight; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood; D008275:Magnesium Deficiency / Q000150:complications*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D012756:Sheep; D013928:Thromboxane A2 / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D013928:Thromboxane A2; D011464:Epoprostenol; D008274:Magnesium