Magnesium toxicity: bone lesions

Broiler chicks fed corn-soy rations supplemented with toxic levels of magnesium from one day of age grew poorly, developed diarrhea, and exhibited characteristic skeletal abnormalities. Tibiae from magnesium intoxicated chicks were shortened, thickened, and bowed. Percent tibial ash was greatly reduced. Upon microscopic examination, the bone lesion appeared rachitic as evidenced by widened and lengthened growth plates, excessive osteoid seams on endochandral bone, and osteoid or bone capped metaphyseal blood vessels with very few associated osteoblasts. Tibial calcium to phosphorus mass ratios decreased while tibial magnesium to phosphorus mass ratios increased concomitantly with increased dietary magnesium. Calcium and phosphorus homeostasis was possibly affected as evidenced by a general decrease in size and cellularity of parathyroid glands and a general increase in size and cellularity of ultimobranchial glands.