Skip to main content
Log in

Effects of age on erythrocyte magnesium, sodium and potassium concentrations in female dairy cattle

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Veterinary Research Communications Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The effect of age on erythrocyte Mg, Na and K concentrations and the correlations between these parameters (EMg, ENa and EK) and other blood parameters were studied in female dairy cattle ranging from 1 week to over 8 years of age. EMg concentration was higher than plasma Mg, the concentration being highest in calves 1 week old and lowest in cows 3–4 years old. ENa and EK concentrations were lower and higher respectively in calves 1 week of age than in older animals and did not show any significant age variation in those between 1 and 8 years of age. The EK concentration was more highly correlated with erythrocyte parameters (PCV, RCC, Hb, MCV, MCH, MCHC) than was either EMg or ENa concentrations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Albers, G. A. A. & Lejambre, L. F., 1983. Erythrocyte potassium concentration: a simple parameter for erythropoiesis in sheep infected with Haemonchus contortus. Res. Vet. Sci., 35, 273–276

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernstein, R. F., 1959. Alterations in metabolic energetics and cation transport during aging of red blood cells. J. Clin. Invest., 38, 1572–1586

    Google Scholar 

  • Blechner, J. N., 1961. Sodium and potassium in the erythrocyte of adult and foetal goats. Am. J. Physiology, 199, 1174–1176

    Google Scholar 

  • Blechner, J. N., 1961. Ionic composition of red cells in foetal, newborn and adult sheep. Am. J. Physiology, 201, 85–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Elin, R. J., Armstrong, W. D. & Singer, L., 1971. Body fluid electrolyte composition of chronically magnesium deficient and control rats. Am. J. Physiology, 220, 543–548

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellory, J. C. & Tucker, E. M., 1970. High potassium type red cells in cattle. J. Agric. Sci., 74, 595–596

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, J. V., 1963. The variability of postassium concentration in erythrocytes in relation to anaemia in sheep. Aust. J. Agric. Sci., 14, 540–548

    Google Scholar 

  • Eveleth, D. F., 1937. Comparisons of the distribution of magnesium in blood cells and plasma of animals. J. Biol. Chem., 119, 289–292

    Google Scholar 

  • Ginsburg, S., Smith, J. G., Ginsburg, F. M., Reardon, J. Z. & Aikawa, J. K., 1962. Magnesium metabolism of human and rabbit erythrocytes. Blood, 20, 723–729

    Google Scholar 

  • Green, H. H. & MaCaskill, E. H., 1928. Studies in mineral metabolism. VI. Comparison of the blood of cow and calf in respect to mineral constituents. J. Agric. Sci., 18, 384–389

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenberg, D. M., Lucia, S. P., Mackey, M. A. & Tufts, E. V., 1933. The magnesium content of the plasma and the red cells of human blood. J. Biol. Chem., 100, 139–149.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grimes, R. M., Duncan, C. W. & Lassiter, C. A., 1958. Bovine fetal haemoglobin. 1. Postnatal persistence and relation to adult haemoglobin. J. Dairy Sci., 41, 1527–1533

    Google Scholar 

  • Kitchenham, B. A., Rowlands, G. J. & Shorbagi, H., 1975. Relationships of concentrations of certain blood constituents with milk yield and age of cows in dairy herds. Res. Vet. Sci., 18, 249–252

    Google Scholar 

  • Pradham, S. C. & Johnstone, I. C., 1972. Haemonchus contortus, haematological changes in lambs during prolonged exposure to daily and weekly doses of infective larvae. Parasitology, 64, 153–160

    Google Scholar 

  • Rasmusen, B. A., Tucker, E. M., Ellory, J. C. & Spooner, R. L., 1974. The relationship between S system of blood groups and potassium levels in red blood cells of cattle. Anim. Bld. Grps. Biochem. Genet., 5, 95–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Rose, I. A., 1968. The state of magnesium in cells as estimated from the adenylate kinase equilibrium. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 61, 1079–1086

    Google Scholar 

  • Salt, F. J., 1950. Magnesium in cells and plasma, with reference to bovine blood. Lab. J., 8, 357–367

    Google Scholar 

  • Seelig, M. S., 1980. Magnesium deficiency in the pathogenesis of disease, (Plenum, NY, USA)

    Google Scholar 

  • Timms, R. & Murphy, G. M., 1980. Erythrocytic sodium and potassium changes during Babesia bigemina infection in cattle. Res. Vet. Sci., 29, 367–369

    Google Scholar 

  • Tumbleson, M. E., Wingfield, W. E., Johnson, H. D., Campbell, J. R. & Middleton, C. C., 1973a. Serum electrolyte concentrations as a function of age in female dairy cattle. Cornell Vet., 63, 58–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tumbleson, M. E., Burks, M. F. & Wingfield, W. E., 1973b. Serum protein concentration as a function of age in female dairy cattle. Cornell Vet., 63, 65–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Wingfield, W. E. & Tumbleson, M. E., 1973. Haematologic parameters as a function of age in female dairy cattle. Cornell Vet., 63, 72–80

    Google Scholar 

  • Wise, G. H., Caldwell, M. J., Parrish, R. J., Flipse, R. J. & Hughes, J. S., 1947. Changes in cell volume and in concentration of haemoglobin and of several inorganic constituents of the blood of calves during early postnatal development. J. Dairy Sci., 30, 983–993

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mulei, C.M., Daniel, R.C.W. Effects of age on erythrocyte magnesium, sodium and potassium concentrations in female dairy cattle. Veterinary Research Communications 12, 113–118 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00362790

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00362790

Keywords

Navigation