Intracellular free magnesium in synaptosomes measured with entrapped eriochrome blue

The free Mg2+ concentration within synaptosomes has been measured with an entrapped Mg2+ indicator, eriochrome blue. Ionophores gramicidin and A23187 slowly increased the absorbance of the entrapped dye. Calibration of the dye response in a Na+-based medium gave a value around 0.3 mM for the internal free Mg2+ concentration at 1 mM external Mg2+. The replacement of Na+ by choline increased this value to around 0.65 mM. Depolarisation with a high K+ concentration or depletion of intrasynaptosomal ATP with FCCP and iodoacetate did not affect the level of intracellular free Mg2+ concentration. An elevation of the external Ca2+ concentration significantly reduced internal Mg2+ to about 0.1 mM. Ca2+ had no significant effect when Na+ was replaced by choline. The results indicate that the intrasynaptosomal Mg2+ activity is partially regulated by a Na+-Mg2+ exchange mechanism which does not directly require ATP as an energy source.