Magnesium Deficiency in the Sexually Mature Rat.

Abstract

Sexually mature rats maintained on a Mg-deficient diet develop lesions of the skin characterized by erythema, purpural hemorrhages and eschars. Addition of Mg to the diet results in recovery from the skin lesions. Other symptoms observed are essentially the same as in the immature animal deprived of Mg. The increased length of time before the appearance of symptoms in older animals probably reflects in creased body stores of Mg with an increment in the time required to deplete the tissues of this element.