Symptomatology and Pathology of Potassium and Magnesium Deficiencies in the Rat

Abstract

Rats receiving a potassium deficient diet showed slow loss in weight, short fur-like hair, cyanosis, abdominal distention, and lethargy leading to coma and death (23 days average). Pathological changes occurred in the intestine, pancreas, kidneys and heart. Marked ascites was usually present. Hydrothorax and hydropericardium were an occasional occurrence. Rats receiving a magnesium deficient diet showed a very subnormal growth in the early part of the experiment; part of this gain in weight was lost before the animals died. The animals consistently developed generalized hyperemia of the skin, which was followed by circumscribed areas of erythema, hemorrhages, eschar formation, and exfoliation. Edema of the extremities and nasal region was an occasional finding. An early hyperirritability, apparently progressive, led to tonic-clonic convulsions (30 days average), and often to death (35 days average). Death was characterized by its suddenness and unpredictability. Considering the spectacular nature of the symptoms, surprisingly little histopathology was encountered. Aside from the usual occurrence of changes in the skin, one-third of the animals (nine out of twenty-seven) evidenced degenerative changes in the liver. The symptomatology and pathology resulting from a deficiency of both potassium and magnesium were similar to those of potassium deficiency, except that the rats evidenced the early hyperirritability of magnesium deficiency. No abnormalities other than a subnormal rate of growth were encountered when both magnesium and potassium, in the form of the simple salts or as a part of a complex salt mixture, were added to the basal diet. In each case the rate of growth was identical.