Effect of magnesium injection on foetal development.
Pregnant rats were subcutaneously injected twice daily with 1.5 ml 150 mmol/l MgCl2 beginning at day 5 of gestation. By this treatment development of foetal liver and pancreas was enhanced. In the foetal liver, there was a precocious glycogenolysis combined with a precocious development of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and an irregular arrangement of the rough ER. In the pancreas, the development of secretory granules was enhanced. In alizarin red-stained and cleared specimens, the foetal skeleton was less calcified. The injected Mg2+ remained extracellular. Altered hormonal secretion and/or an altered activity of the regulatory enzymes of glycogen metabolism induced by the increased extracellular Mg2+ concentration are discussed as possible mechanisms for enhanced foetal liver development.
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D008112:Liver Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism; D008274:Magnesium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010179:Pancreas / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D004573:Electrolytes; D008112:Liver Glycogen; D008274:Magnesium