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Effect of Histamine and Ammonia on Hypomagnesemia in Ruminants^{1 ,2,}

Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47906

Abstract

The effects of exogenous histamine and ammonia on hypomagnesemia were determined in a 2² factorial arrangement of treatments with 16 ruminal fistulated lambs fed a semipurified low magnesium (.08%) ration and given intraruminal infusions of histamine, ammonia or histamine + ammonia and compared to a control receiving deionized water. Samples of blood and ruminal fluid were taken at the beginning and end of an 80-day trial and analyzed for histamine, electrolytes and ammonia, and ammonia and pH, respectively. One lamb in the histamine + ammonia group and two lambs in the ammonia group showed signs of hypomagnesemic tetany accompanied by low phosphorus levels. The two groups receiving ammonia had lower serum magnesium levels (P<.05) than the histamine or control groups. There was no treatment effect on serum calcium, potassium, phosphorus or ammonia levels. Blood histamine was higher (P<.05) in the group receiving histamine + ammonia. Ruminal ammonia levels were higher (P<.01) for the two groups receiving ammonia; however, no differences in ruminal pH were observed. These studies suggest that high levels of ammonia may be responsible for depression of serum Mg levels leading to tetany, but histamine has no effect.

In the second trial, analysis of serum from range cows indicated no correlation between serum histamine and magnesium levels.

¹ Research supported by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison. Muscle Biology Manuscript No.94.

² The authors wish to express their appreciation to Eli Lilly & Company for supplying the histamine.