Effect of magnesium on cocaine-induced, catecholamine-mediated platelet and vascular response in term pregnant ewes.

Ten pregnant ewes were alternated in a study of the blocking effect of parenteral magnesium on the catecholamine response to cocaine. Indirect blood pressures were recorded at 1-minute intervals for 12 minutes before and after a bolus of 2 mg/kg of cocaine. Fetal heart rates were continuously recorded from skin electrodes. Platelet counts were performed before and 12 minutes after cocaine. Control ewes received lactated Ringer's solution, and test animals had 5 mg/kg of elemental magnesium in the form of MgSO4-7H2O in a rapid infusion. A semicrossover was also performed. Platelet counts fell precipitately in controls and rose after magnesium infusions. Fetal heart rates rose in controls at 5-minute intervals and were unchanged in magnesium-treated mothers. Because of disparity of the baseline mean arterial pressure, direct comparisons were not significant before and after cocaine. Alterations from the baseline were different in magnesium-treated versus control animals, with values in the latter rising by 28 +/- 10 mm Hg with lactated Ringer's solution plus cocaine and falling by 3 +/- 5 mm Hg with magnesium pretreatment. Values in test animals originally treated with magnesium rose 4 +/- 11 mm Hg for an overall significance of p less than 0.05. Low beginning serum magnesium levels were associated with ovine hypertension and reduced fetal weight and survival.