Lowered total intracellular magnesium status in a subgroup of hypertensives

Abstract A new method to determine total Mg ++ content in lymphocytes was developed, offering advantages for routine measurements as compared to fluorescence methods. Intracellular total Mg ++ measurements were performed in lymphocytes of 18 healthy subjects and 19 untreated essential hypertensive patients. Mg ++ content was referred to lymphocytic and membrane protein, which was determined according to Bradford's method. Mg ++ measurements were performed by atomic absorption spectroscopy using a Video 12 apparatus of Thermo Electron Instrumentation Laboratory, Andover, USA. The results show that in patients with essential hypertension total intralymphocytic Mg ++ content is significantly lower (0.07 ± 0.05 mmol/g lymphocytic protein, mean ± s.d.) as compared to controls (0.11 ± 0.04 mmol/g lymphocytic protein, mean ± s.d., p < 0.05). Free intracellular Mg ++ content was measured in lymphocytes by the fluorescent indicator mag-fura-II, showing no significant differences in normotensives and hypertensives (0.30 ± 0.16 versus 0.38 ± 0.17 mmol/l). Additionally, in platelets free intracellular Mg ++ concentrations were not found of significant difference in normotensives and hypertensives (0.52 ± 0.23 versus 0.47 ± 0.27 mmol/l) using mag-fura-II. In plasma Mg ++ concentrations there was no significant difference in the normotensive and hypertensive group (0.92 ± 0.07 versus 0.88 ± 0.07 mmol/l). There was no correlation between plasma or free or total cellular magnesium concentrations in both groups. Furthermore this method seems also suitable for routine measurements of total intracellular Mg ++ concentrations in even larger measurements like mag-fur-II. Lowered total intracellular Mg ++ concentrations in a subgroup of primary hypertensives may contribute to the development of this disorder, perhaps due to different buffering systems.