Effects of mechanical vibration on rat plasma calcium, magnesium, phosphate, and xanthine oxidase.

Sprague-Dawley rats were vibrated for 4 min in one of 12 combinations of G levels (+/-2, +/-4, or +/-8 GX) and frequency ranges (12-61, 62-111, 112-161, or 162-211 HZ). The animals were restrained and conscious during vibration. Plasma calcium, magnesium and inorganic phosphate concentrations as well as xanthine oxidase activities were determined for each animal at various times before and after vibration. Vibration at specific G levels induced physiological changes in plasma calcium, magnesium, and xanthine oxidase levels. Plasma inorganic phosphate concentrations appeared to increase with an increase in the displacement of vibration. All of the effects observed occurred within 24 h of vibration treatment. An effect of the frequency of vibration was not observed with any of the parameters examined. Factors involved in performing the experiments also were able to induce certain physiological changes, viz., the level of plasma calcium and xanthine oxidase activity.