[Relationship between red blood cell magnesium level and immune response in the mouse]

Red Blood cell (RBC) and plasma (P) Magnesium concentrations have been determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry on male Mice belonging to various inbred strains: High and low responders and H-2 congenic. The antibody (Ab) levels have also been measured 10 days after injecting a threshold quantity of Sheep red cells. The strains with a high Ab response exhibit lower RBC Mg concentrations than those having a low response. Similar results, but less significant, are obtained for PMg. These findings confirm those previously obtained in Men. They suggest, moreover, the action of various genetic factors on this phenomenon, some of them being possibly associated with the major complex of histocompatibility.