The Magnesium Content of the Erythrocytes in Pernicious and Some Other Anemias.

The authors have previously reported (1) variations in the permeability of the red blood cells in pernicious anemia. In spite of the considerable r6le played by magnesium in important fields of biology, comparatively little study has been directed towards the magnesium content of the human red blood cells. Greenberg and Schmidt (2) state that magnesium is present in normal erythrocytes in quantities between 5.4 and 7.8 mgm. per cent, and that during anemia readings up to 15 mgm. per cent may be obtained. Animal experiments carried out by Henriques and Qrskov (3) gave results suggesting that an increased magnesium content is a property of newly formed red cells. Anemia was induced in rabbits and dogs, either by bleeding or by injection of phenylhydrazine. During the regenerative stage, in which the young red blood cells are relatively more numerous, a considerable rise in erythrocyte magnesium was observed, occasionally after the bleeding, and regularly in the phenylhydrazine experiments. This evidence seemed to warrant the probability that information regarding human anemic states might be obtained through investigations into the magnesium content of the erythrocytes, and the following study was undertaken.