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Magnesium deficiency in adult rats promotes the induction of ventricular tachycardia by the administration of epinephrine

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The effects of magnesium deficiency on epinephrine-induced ventricular tachyarrhythmia were investigated in adult rats. Forty-two adult Wistar rats were fed a magnesium-deficient diet while 30 rats were fed a standard diet for 20 days. The plasma magnesium concentration was lower in the magnesium-deficient rats (0.22 ± 0.01mmol/l) than in the control rats (0.76 ± 0.03 mmol/l,P < 0.001). Using a telemetry system, electrocardiograms and arterial blood pressure were recorded on a polygraph in an unrestrained condition. Epinephrine was infused intravenously starting at 5 µg/kg per minute. The QT interval was prolonged to 50 ± 1ms in the magnesium-deficient rats compared with 44 ± 1 ms in the control rats (P < 0.001). Before the administration of epinephrine, no ventricular tachyarrhythmias or seizures were found in either the control or the magnesium-deficient rats. The incidence of epinephrine-induced sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) was higher in the magnesiumdeficient rats (86%) than in the control rats (43%,P < 0.01). However, this VT did not result in sudden death. Seizures always preceded death in both the magnesium-deficient and control rats while the arrhythmias observed immediately before death were mainly bradyarrhythmias. The present study in an adult rat magnesium-deficient model revealed that magnesium deficiency enhances the susceptibility to epinephrine-induced ventricular tachyarrhythmias.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Graduate School of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Nakamura-Gakuen University, 5-7-1 Befu, Jonan-ku, 814-0104, Fukuoka, Japan

    Toshiko Tomiyasu & Motoomi Nakamura

  2. Department of Nursing, Kyushu University School of Health Sciences, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, 812-8582, Fukuoka, Japan

    Akiko Chishaki

Authors
  1. Toshiko Tomiyasu
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  2. Akiko Chishaki
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  3. Motoomi Nakamura
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This study was supported in part by grants from the Salt Science Research Foundation (9131, 92045)

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Tomiyasu, T., Chishaki, A. & Nakamura, M. Magnesium deficiency in adult rats promotes the induction of ventricular tachycardia by the administration of epinephrine. Heart Vessels 13, 122–131 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01747829

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01747829

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