Production of Hyperglycemia in Rabbits by Subcutaneous Injections of Magnesium Salts.

Abstract

The presence of magnesium in chlorophyll, and the important role of the latter in the metabolism of carbohydrates in plants, led us to study the effect of magnesium salts on blood sugar in rabbits. Five normal rabbits, starved for 24 hours, were injected subcutaneously with a 5 per cent solution of MgCl2 or MgSO4, using 5 cc. of this solution per kilo of body weight. During the experiment the rabbits were kept quiet in a tray, without restraint, and there was no struggle when the 2 cc. of blood were taken from the marginal ear vein. Such moderate bleeding does not affect essentially the blood sugar level in rabbits, as shown in a previous paper1.The results of the experiments are presented in the following table:This table shows that subcutaneous injection of magnesium salts produces a marked hyperglycemia, with a maximum in from 2 to 2 1/2 hours. In 5 1/2 hours the blood sugar is not far from its initial level, and in 24 hours it has reached a normal value. Controls, on the hemoglobin content, show that ...