Magnesium transport in human pregnancy (magnesium content of human gestation tissues and tissue fluids).

Authors used atom absorption spectrophotometry to determine the magnesium content of gestation tissues (placenta, myometrium) and tissue fluids (maternal blood, cord blood, amniotic fluid) taken in different periods of gestation. Magnesium concentration was found higher in the cord blood than in the maternal serum. It was assumed that the concentration gradient between mother and fetus resulted from active transport. There was a significant difference between the magnesium content of the amniotic fluid and the cord blood sera (P < 0.001). The magnesium content of the mature chorion tissue was by nearly 40% lower than that of the immature one. The magnesium content of the myometrium decreased by 38% by Week 40 of gestation, as compared to the value in Week 37.