Assessment of magnesium influence on fatty acid content in isolated rat hepatocytes subjected to incubation.

Magnesium salts are components of many dietary supplements used in treatment or prevention of magnesium deficiency. Hypomagnesemia usually results from an improper lifestyle, including unbalanced diet. Isolated hepatocytes of animals or humans are the preferred model used to study the in vitro effects of exogenous factors on cellular metabolic changes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the content of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids and their esters in isolated rat hepatocytes influenced by different magnesium concentrations. The isolated rat hepatocytes were used as the test material. Hepatocytes were prepared in culture medium (Hepatocyte Medium) + MgCl(2) solution to concentrations of 2 mM/dm(3) MgCl(2), 4 mM/dm(3) MgCl(2). After incubation with different concentrations of magnesium ions, changes in the content of fatty acids and their esters were found for the whole hepatocytes and hepatocyte membranes. Despite changes in the fatty acid content in the whole hepatocytes and their membranes, there were no changes in the coefficient of degree of saturation of fatty acids when different concentrations of MgCl2 were used.

Changes in the content of short, medium and long-chain fatty acids in isolated hepatocytes incubated in the presence of magnesium ions and/or ethanol.

Magnesium is one of the commonly used dietary supplements. Therefore, this study was to evaluate the content of short, medium and long-chain fatty acids and their esters in isolated rat hepatocytes induced by magnesium and/or ethanol. Isolation of hepatocytes was carried out by the Seglen's enzymatic method using collagenase. To thus prepared samples ethanol and/or MgCl2 solution were added, respectively, so that their concentrations were as follows: 150 mM/dm3 ethanol and/or 2 mM/dm3 MgCl2, 4 mM/dm3 MgCl2. The contents of short, medium and long-chain fatty acids and those of ester-bound acids were determined. The statistical evaluation of the experiment was made by comparing the area normalized for the analysed fatty acids in hepatocytes incubated for 5 h in the presence of the test substances. The effect of magnesium ions on the content of fatty acids and their esters in isolated hepatocytes incubated for 5 h depended on their concentration in the medium. A normalizing effect of magnesium ions on ethanol-induced changes in the content of C14-C17, C18-C20 and C21-C24 fatty acids was demonstrated. A normalizing effect of magnesium on ethanol-induced changes in the content of ester-bound fatty acids in hepatocytes was not confirmed.

Effect of magnesium ions on ethanol-induced changes in the pool of saturated, mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids in isolated rat hepatocytes.

The aim of the paper was the assessment of the effect of magnesium ions on ethanol-induced changes in the content of ester-bound fatty acids in isolated rat hepatocytes and their cell membranes. Hepatocytes were isolated by means of the enzymatic method of Selgen using collagenase. The number and viability of isolated rat hepatocytes, incubated for 5 hours in culture media (Hepatocyte Medium) with ethanol and MgCl2 solutions with concentration amounting respectively to: 150 mM/dm3 of ethanol and/or 2 mM/dm3 of MgCl2, 4 mM/dm3 of MgCl2, were determined. Biochemical tests of hepatocytes were performed, consisting in the determination of the total content of ester-bound fatty acids in whole hepatocytes and their cell membranes after incubation. Confirmed normalising action of magnesium ions with respect to the effects induced in hepatocytes and their membranes by the presence of ethanol should be attributed to the important role of magnesium which it performs during reactions taking place with participation of ATP.