Toxicological and Pharmacological Studies on the Magnesium Deficiency in Rats : I. Histamine Contents in Some Tissues of Magnesium Deficient Rats

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Abstract
The effects of dietary Mg deficiency were studied in young Wistar rats with mean initial body weight of 60 g. The Mg deficient diet inhibited animal growth. Four to 5 days after feeding with Mg deficient diet, peripheral vasodilation and edema were observed lasting for 4-6 days. There was a progressive fall in plasma Mg concentration to .apprx. 1/3 of the control value after 6 days. Plasma Ca, K and Na concentrations were unaltered significantly until 20 days of deficiency. Histamine concentrations in plasma and urine increased rapidly after 4-5 days and reached a maximum after 6-12 days, then gradually declined to the initial levels. A significant increase in histamine content was observed in spleen, duodenum, liver, kidney and lung after 8 days, but not in brain, stomach and skin. The number of mast cells in skin and spleen showed no significant change until 12 days although a significant increase was seen in the duodenum. The increase in histamine content in some tissues might not be due to increase in the number of mast cells.