Age-related differences in the reactivity of the respiratory division of lungs in rats after administration of magnesium chloride

Introduction. Magnesium is directly involved in the regulation of lung function. However, the effectiveness of various magnesium preparations for activating lung function is not unambiguous. One of the reasons for this may be age-related differences in the nature of structural and functional changes in the lungs in response to the administration of magnesium.

Aim. To study the reactivity of the lungs respiratory division of different ages rats to prolonged administration of magnesium chloride.

Materials and methods. The experiments were performed on 48 male Wistar rats of 3 and 15 months of age. The experimental animals, in addition to the standard diet, received magnesium chloride at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight daily for 21 days. At the end of the experiment, lung tissue samples were taken for histomorphological and biochemical studies.

Results. At the end of the experiment, 3-month-old rats treated with magnesium chloride showed an increase in the size of the alveoli, a decrease in the relative area of the parenchyma and stroma, and an increase in the relative area of air spaces. A decrease in the thickness of the interalveolar septum and the concentration of oxyproline in the lung tissue of these rats may indicate a decrease in the number of connective tissue elements. In 15- month-old experimental animals, on the contrary, an increase in the relative area of the parenchyma and stroma of the lungs (by 14%), a decrease in the relative area of air spaces (by 12%), and an increase in the concentration of oxyproline in the lungs (by 21%) were observed.

Conclusion. Thus, the research results indicate age-related differences in changes in morphological and biochemical parameters characterizing the state of the respiratory division of the lungs with prolonged administration of magnesium chloride. The nature and severity of these changes suggests that in 3-month-old rats magnesium increased lung activity, and in 15-month-old animals, on the contrary, it decreased.

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