Comparison of the effects of calcium and magnesium on parathyroid hormone secretion rate in calves.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion rate was measured in seven calves by using a technique which involved RIA of parathyroid venous blood collected during timed intervals and measured volumetrically. Infusion of solutions of NA2EDTA and MgCl2 into the jugular vein was used to alter plasma calcium and magnesium concentrations. In four calves, elevation of plasma magnesium concentration rapidly decreased the PTH secretion rate that had been stimulated by induced hypocalcemia. In three calves, equimolar and opposite changes in plasma calcium and magnesium concentrations were induced by simultaneous infusions of Na2EDTA and MgCl2. Despite the equimolar increase in plasma magnesium concentration, PTH secretion was increased in response to the decline in plasma calcium concentration. In three experiments, the concentration of each cation was kept constant during periods in which the concentration of the other cation was varied. The effect of variations in plasma magnesium concentration on PTH secretion rate was approximately 1/3-1/2 as great as that observed with changes in plasma calcium concentration. These observations indicate that the effect of magnesium on PTH secretion rate is similar to that of calcium, but not equipotent.