Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Our objectives were to determine whether magnesium sulfate crosses the blood-brain barrier and whether it has central anticonvulsant action. STUDY DESIGN: In experiment 1 34 female Long-Evans rats were divided into six groups: control (n = 7); single magnesium sulfate injection and evaluation after 20 minutes in 3 conditions: normal rats (n = 7), sham-operated animals (n = 5), and after electrical stimulation by hippocampal electrode (n = 5); single injection and evaluation after 2 hours (n = 5); and prolonged (2 hours) serum magnesium elevation (n = 5). Serum, cerebrospinal fluid, and specific brain areas were analyzed for magnesium concentrations. In experiment 2 threshold for electrical seizure was measured in eight rats before and after intraperitoneal injections of magnesium sulfate versus saline solution. RESULTS: In experiment 1 there was a significant correlation between blood and cerebrospinal fluid magnesium concentrations (r = 0.80, p < 0.0001). Magnesium concentrations were increased in the cortex and hippocampus, with the largest changes occurring after two hours of sustained serum magnesium concentrations (p < 0.01). Induction of hippocampal seizure activity resulted in further elevations in cerebrospinal fluid magnesium concentrations but did not change brain concentrations. In experiment 2 magnesium sulfate increased the electrical threshold required to induce seizures by 34% (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Magnesium sulfate enters the cerebrospinal fluid and brain and has a central anticonvulsant effect.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1605-1610 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology |
Volume | 167 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 1992 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Magnesium sulfate
- blood-brain barrier
- seizures