Protective action of sex hormones against mast cell depletion and other deleterious effects of magnesium deprivation.

Dietary magnesium deficiency has been more damaging to the mast cells in females than in males. Estradiol at a dose of 1.5 mg per week for 4 weeks and testosterone at a dose of 3 mg per week in the males have resulted in lesser mast cell depletion in the magnesium-deficient animals. Large doses of testosterone have also improved in the condition of the skin, decreased the severity of other magnesium deprivation symptoms such as nephrocalcinosis, bone hyperplasia and nervous manifestations in the males. Testosterone has had no beneficial effect on mast cells of the females but the large dose has protected the kidney against nephrocalcinosis. Estrogen administration has aggrevated the production of kidney stones in the females.