Modification of human amniotic membrane stability after addition of magnesium salts.

Membrane stability is determined by the measure of two electrical parameters: the total ionic conductance (Gt) and the ionic fluxes (F1, F2). These two categories of interaction between the membrane polar groups and magnesium explain its effects on membrane stability. The screening interaction is characterized by the fact that the polar groups are masked by magnesium and by a decrease of Gt, F1 and F2. The membrane stability increases. The binding interaction is characterized by the fact that the polar groups are accessible to other ions and by an increase of Gt, F1 and F2. The membrane stability decreases. Among the different magnesium salts studied, MgCl2, Mg acetate and Mg citrate increase then decrease the stability on the two faces of the amnion. MgSO4, Mg lactate and Mg nitrate increase the stability on the maternal side, but decrease it on the fetal side. MgCl2, Mg acetate and Mg citrate have an identical effect on the two faces of the amnion which does not influence the transfer ratio.