Changes in intracellular free magnesium during hypoglycaemia and hypoxia in cerebral tissue as calculated from 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance spectra.

31P-nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of superfused cerebral tissues were obtained under normal, hypoglycaemic, and hypoxic conditions. Concentrations of free intracellular magnesium were calculated from differences in chemical shifts between the alpha- and beta-resonances of the nucleoside phosphates. Control levels of 0.33 mM were significantly increased to 0.52 mM in hypoglycaemia and to 0.57 mM in severe hypoxia. Removal of calcium from the superfusing medium increased the free intracellular Mg2+ concentration to 0.63 mM.