Effect of dietary magnesium content on bone growth in relation to secretion of calcitonin in rats
Morii, H.; Wada, M.
Osaka City Medical Journal 19(1): 67-71
1973
ISSN/ISBN: 0030-6096 PMID: 4781794 Document Number: 57564
Male Sprague-Dawley rats 4 weeks old were given a diet which contained 1% Ca and was deficient in Mg or had 1 or 5% Mg for 17 or 24 days. When the rats were killed blood was collected, a femur was removed and thyroid tissue was removed, homogenised and centrifuged, the supernatant was diluted with water and 0.08 part of one thyroid gland was given by injection to rats 4 weeks old from which blood was collected 1 h later for estimation of calcitonin activity. After 24 days the rats weighed 49, 151 and 60 g, respectively. Although femur was significantly heavier in rats on 1% Mg than in the other groups, the ratio femur weight:bodyweight was least in those on 1% Mg and highest in those on the diet deficient in Mg. Serum Ca was significantly reduced in rats on the diets high or deficient in Mg. The hypocalcaemic effect of the thyroid extract was significantly less in rats given the diet with 5% Mg than in those on 1% Mg for 24 days. In those on the diets for 17 days there was a significant difference in the hypocalcaemic activity of the thyroid extract between rats on the diet deficient in Mg and that with 5% Mg but not between those on 1% and on 5% Mg.