Transfer of magnesium across the perfused choroid plexus of sheep

Isolated perfused choroid plexus preparations from sheep were used to study the effects of low concentrations of magnesium in the perfusion fluid on the transfer of magnesium into choroid plexus fluid (CPF). A perfusion fluid of similar electrolyte composition to sheep blood resulted in CPF similar to ventricular cerebrospinal fluid at a rate of 2.2 microliter min-1 mg-1 dry choroidal tissue. Decreasing the concentration of magnesium in the perfusion fluid caused a fall in the concentration of magnesium in the CPF, although it remained higher than in the perfusion fluid. The rate of transfer of magnesium from the perfusion fluid to the CPF decreased in the presence of high levels of potassium in the perfusion fluid. But decreasing the concentration of calcium in the perfusion fluid had no effect on magnesium transfer rates. These results suggest that the ability of the choroid plexus to transport magnesium against a concentration gradient is an important control of the concentration of the cerebrospinal fluid. However, this ability is insufficient to maintain cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of magnesium at normal levels when the blood magnesium concentration is below about 0.5 mmol l-1.