Intracellular magnesium content in hypertension

Abstract

A method to determine total Mg²⁺ content in lymphocytes was developed, offering advantages for routine measurements as compared to fluorescence methods. Intracellular Mg²⁺ measurements were performed in lymphocytes of 16 normotensive, 20 essential hypertensive, 15 renal hypertensive patients (patients with a chronic glomerulonephritis), and 10 normotensive, renal insufficient patients. Mg²⁺ content was referred to lymphocytic protein, which was determined according to Bradford's method. Mg²⁺ measurements were performed by atomic absorption spectroscopy using an electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscope. The results show that in patients with essential hypertension, intralymphocytic Mg²⁺ content is significantly lower (0.07 ± 0.04 mmol/g lymphocytic protein, mean ± SD) compared with controls (0.11 ± 0.03 mmol/g lymphocytic protein, mean ± SD,p <0.05). In renal hypertensive patients, intracellular Mg²⁺ concentrations are significantly increased compared with normotensive or essential hypertensive patients (0.35 ± 0.10 mmol/g lymphocytic protein, mean ± SD,p <0.05). In the normotensive renal insufficient group, intracellular Mg²⁺ concentrations were measured (0.37 ± 0.05 mmol/g lymphocytic protein, mean ± SD being significantly increased compared to the normotensive or hypertensive group (p <0.05). There was no significant difference between the renal insufficient group with and without arterial hypertension. In plasma Mg²⁺ concentrations there was no significant difference in the four groups of patients. Furthermore, this method also seems suitable for routine measurements of cellular Mg²⁺ concentrations in even larger groups of patients.