Effects of dietary magnesium on pulmonary vascular reactivity and chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in rats

Summary The effects of dietary magnesium (Mg) on pulmonary vascular reactivity and chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension were assessed in rats. The rats were fed high magnesium (H-Mg) diet or a regular diet for two months before the start of normobaric hypoxia, 10±0.5 % O₂ ventilation, 8 h/day, for 14 days runnning. The plasma level of Mg was significantly increased in the H-Mg group as compared to the controls. Mean pulmonary arterial pressure, pulmonary vascular reactivity to hypoxia and pulmonary vascular resistance were significantly lower in the rats fed H-Mg diet than in those fed regular diet. The weight ratios of the right ventricle to the ending body weight (RV/EBW) and to the left ventricle plus iterventricular septum (RV/LV+S) in the rats fed H-Mg diet were remarkably lower as well. No difference was observed in blood viscosity and hematocrit between the H-Mg group and the hypoxic control. The above findings suggest that dietary Mg can attenuate basic pulmonary resistance and hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, thereby preventing the development of chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy.