Analyze Diet
Journal of veterinary internal medicine2019; 33(2); 923-932; doi: 10.1111/jvim.15410

Intravenous infusion of magnesium sulfate and its effect on horses with trigeminal-mediated headshaking.

Abstract: Trigeminal-mediated headshaking results from low-threshold firing of the trigeminal nerve resulting in apparent facial pain. Magnesium may have neuroprotective effects on nerve firing that potentially dampen signs of neuropathic pain. This hypothesis has not been investigated in horses with trigeminal-mediated headshaking. Objective: To investigate head-shaking behavior in affected horses after IV magnesium sulfate infusion. Methods: Six geldings with trigeminal-mediated headshaking. Methods: Prospective randomized crossover study. Horses were controlled for diet and infused IV with 5% dextrose solution (DS; control solution at 2 mL/kg body weight [BW]) and MgSO4 50% solution (MSS at 40 mg/kg BW). Head-shaking behavior was recorded at times T0 (baseline, before infusion) and T15, T30, T60, and T120 minutes post-infusion. Venous blood variables such as pH, HCO3 - , standard base excess (SBE), Na+ , Cl- , K+ , Ca2+ , Mg2+ , total magnesium (tMg), glucose, and lactate were measured; strong ion difference (SID) and anion gap (AG) were calculated for each time point. Results: Blood variables including pH, Na+ , Cl- , K+ , SID, AG, lactate, Ca2+ , tMg, and Mg2+ had significant changes with MSS as compared to DS treatment. Glucose, SBE, and HCO3 - did not have significant changes. A 29% reduction in head-shaking rate occurred after MSS treatment but no change occurred after DS treatment. Conclusions: Administration of MSS IV increased plasma total and ionized magnesium concentrations and significantly decreased head-shaking behavior in horses with trigeminal-mediated headshaking.
Publication Date: 2019-01-22 PubMed ID: 30666732PubMed Central: PMC6430935DOI: 10.1111/jvim.15410Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study investigates the effects of intravenous magnesium sulfate infusion on horses suffering from trigeminal-mediated headshaking. The researchers found that the treatment significantly increased the concentration of magnesium in the blood and notably reduced the occurrence of headshaking in affected horses.

Research Background and Objectives

This research was focused on exploring the behavior of horses affected by trigeminal-mediated headshaking after they receive intravenous infusions of magnesium sulfate. The condition in question, trigeminal-mediated headshaking, is a disorder where low-threshold firing of the trigeminal nerve causes a horse to exhibit signs of facial pain. A key theory this research tests is that magnesium might have a neuroprotective effect that can reduce the symptoms of neuropathic pain.

Methods and Experiment

  • The researchers designed a prospective randomized crossover study using six geldings that suffered from trigeminal-mediated headshaking.
  • All horses’ diets were regulated and they received intravenous infusions either of a 5% dextrose solution (control case) or a magnesium sulfate solution.
  • The occurrence of head-shaking behavior in the horses was recorded at various intervals before and after the administration of the infusions.
  • Additionally, a detailed examination of venous blood variables such as pH, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and glucose concentrations, among others, was conducted at each time point.

Findings and Conclusions

  • Several blood variables, including pH, sodium, chloride, potassium, and magnesium concentrations, showed significant changes after the magnesium sulfate infusion, when compared to the dextrose solution infusion.
  • No significant changes were detected in glucose, standard base excess, and bicarbonate concentrations.
  • The rate of headshaking was reduced by 29% after the magnesium sulfate treatment, while no change in this behavior was observed after the dextrose solution treatment.
  • The study concluded that intravenous administration of magnesium sulfate resulted in higher plasma total and ionized magnesium concentrations and led to a significant decrease in head-shaking behavior in horses afflicted with trigeminal-mediated headshaking.

Cite This Article

APA
Sheldon SA, Aleman M, Costa LRR, Santoyo AC, Howey Q, Madigan JE. (2019). Intravenous infusion of magnesium sulfate and its effect on horses with trigeminal-mediated headshaking. J Vet Intern Med, 33(2), 923-932. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15410

Publication

ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 33
Issue: 2
Pages: 923-932

Researcher Affiliations

Sheldon, Shara A
  • Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California.
Aleman, Monica
  • Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California.
Costa, Lais Rosa R
  • Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California.
Santoyo, Ana C
  • Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California.
Howey, Quinn
  • Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California.
Madigan, John E
  • Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal / drug effects
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Head / physiopathology
  • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
  • Horses
  • Infusions, Intravenous / veterinary
  • Magnesium / blood
  • Magnesium Sulfate / administration & dosage
  • Magnesium Sulfate / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Prospective Studies
  • Trigeminal Nerve / pathology

Grant Funding

  • Gift from anonymous private donors towards the Equine and Comparative Neurology Research Group

Conflict of Interest Statement

Authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

This article includes 36 references
  1. Aleman M, Williams DC, Brosnan RJ. Sensory nerve conduction and somatosensory evoked potentials of the trigeminal nerve in horses with idiopathic headshaking.. J Vet Intern Med 2013;27:1571‐1580.
    pubmed: 24107198
  2. Aleman M, Rhodes D, Williams DC. Sensory evoked potentials of the trigeminal nerve for the diagnosis of idiopathic headshaking in a horse.. J Vet Intern Med 2014;28:250‐253.
    pmc: PMC4895556pubmed: 24428325
  3. Madigan JE, Bell SA. Characterisation of headshaking syndrome–31 cases.. Equine Vet J Suppl 1998;27:28‐29.
    pubmed: 10485000
  4. Colloca L, Ludman T, Bouhassira D. Neuropathic pain.. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2017;3:17002.
    pmc: PMC5371025pubmed: 28205574
  5. Bell AJ. Headshaking in a 10‐year‐old thoroughbred mare.. Can Vet J 2004;45:153‐155.
    pmc: PMC548606pubmed: 15025153
  6. Madigan JE, Bell SA. Owner survey of headshaking in horses.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2001;219:334‐337.
    pubmed: 11497047
  7. Mills DS, Cook S, Taylor K. Analysis of the variations in clinical signs shown by 254 cases of equine headshaking.. Vet Rec 2002;150:236‐240.
    pubmed: 11916024
  8. Li KW, Yu YP, Zhou C. Calcium channel alpha2delta1 proteins mediate trigeminal neuropathic pain states associated with aberrant excitatory synaptogenesis.. J Biol Chem 2014;289:7025‐7037.
    pmc: PMC3945363pubmed: 24459143
  9. Pickles K, Madigan J, Aleman M. Idiopathic headshaking: is it still idiopathic?. Vet J 2014;201:21‐30.
    pubmed: 24821361
  10. Roberts VL, Fews D, McNamara JM. Trigeminal nerve root demyelination not seen in six horses diagnosed with trigeminal‐mediated headshaking.. Front Vet Sci 2017;4:72.
    pmc: PMC5431280pubmed: 28555189
  11. Mills DS, Taylor K. Field study of the efficacy of three types of nose net for the treatment of headshaking in horses.. Vet Rec 2003;152:41‐44.
    pubmed: 12553579
  12. Mills DS, Cook S, Jones B. Reported response to treatment among 245 cases of equine headshaking.. Vet Rec 2002;150:311‐313.
    pubmed: 11913586
  13. Madigan JE, Kortz G, Murphy C. Photic headshaking in the horse: 7 cases.. Equine Vet J 1995;27:306‐311.
    pubmed: 8536668
  14. Talbot WA, Pinchbeck GL, Knottenbelt DC. A randomised, blinded, crossover study to assess the efficacy of a feed supplement in alleviating the clinical signs of headshaking in 32 horses.. Equine Vet J 2013;45:293‐297.
    pubmed: 22994634
  15. Roberts VL, McKane SA, Williams A. Caudal compression of the infraorbital nerve: a novel surgical technique for treatment of idiopathic headshaking and assessment of its efficacy in 24 horses.. Equine Vet J 2009;41:165‐170.
    pubmed: 19418746
  16. Roberts VL, Perkins JD, Skarlina E. Caudal anaesthesia of the infraorbital nerve for diagnosis of idiopathic headshaking and caudal compression of the infraorbital nerve for its treatment, in 58 horses.. Equine Vet J 2013;45:107‐110.
    pubmed: 22413870
  17. Roberts VL, Patel NK, Tremaine WH. Neuromodulation using percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for the management of trigeminal‐mediated headshaking: a safe procedure resulting in medium‐term remission in five of seven horses.. Equine Vet J 2016;48:201‐204.
    pubmed: 25475743
  18. Lane JG, Mair TS. Observations on headshaking in the horse.. Equine Vet J 1987;19:331‐336.
    pubmed: 3622462
  19. Stewart AJ. Magnesium disorders in horses.. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2011;27:149‐163.
    pubmed: 21392659
  20. Tanaka M, Shimizu S, Nishimura W. Relief of neuropathic pain with intravenous magnesium.. Masui 1998;47:1109‐1113.
    pubmed: 9785788
  21. Bowen JM, Blackmon DM, Heavner JE. Effect of magnesium ions on neuromuscular transmission in the horse, steer, and dog.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1970;157:164‐173.
    pubmed: 4316579
  22. Hoenderop JG, Bindels RJ. Epithelial Ca2+ and Mg2+ channels in health and disease.. J Am Soc Nephrol 2005;16:15‐26.
    pubmed: 15574510
  23. Rodriguez‐Rubio L, Solis Garcia Del Pozo J, Nava E. Interaction between magnesium sulfate and neuromuscular blockers during the perioperative period. A systematic review and meta‐analysis.. J Clin Anesth 2016;34:524‐534.
    pubmed: 27687446
  24. Bowen JM, McMullan WC. Influence of induced hypermagnesemia and hypocalcemia on neuromuscular blocking property of oxytetracycline in the horse.. Am J Vet Res 1975;36:1025‐1028.
    pubmed: 1147343
  25. Stewart AJ. Treatment for hypomagnesemia In: Fielding CL, Magdesian KG, eds. Equine Fluid Therapy.. Ames, IA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc; 2015:76‐87.
  26. Stewart PA. Modern quantitative acid‐base chemistry.. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 1983;61:1444‐1461.
    pubmed: 6423247
  27. Lopes MA, Walker BL, White NA. Treatments to promote colonic hydration: enteral fluid therapy versus intravenous fluid therapy and magnesium sulphate.. Equine Vet J 2002;34:505‐509.
    pubmed: 12358055
  28. Sheldon S, Aleman M, Costa L. Alterations in metabolic status and headshaking behavior following intravenous administration of hypertonic solutions in horses with trigeminal‐mediated headshaking.. Animals 2018;8:102.
    pmc: PMC6071069pubmed: 29941850
  29. Henninger RW, Horst J. Magnesium toxicosis in two horses.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1997;211:82‐85.
    pubmed: 9215418
  30. Chen L, Mae Huang L‐Y. Protein kinase C reduces Mg2+ block of NMDA‐receptor channels as a mechanism of modulation.. Nature 1992;356:521‐523.
    pubmed: 1373227
  31. Zhang L, Rzigalinski BA, Ellis EF. Reduction of voltage‐dependent Mg2+ blockade of NMDA current in mechanically injured neurons.. Science 1996;274:1921‐1923.
    pubmed: 8943207
  32. Wang LY, MacDonald JF. Modulation by magnesium of the affinity of NMDA receptors for glycine in murine hippocampal neurones.. J Physiol 1995;486(Pt 1):83‐95.
    pmc: PMC1156498pubmed: 7562646
  33. Bhatia A, Kashyap L, Pawar DK. Effect of intraoperative magnesium infusion on perioperative analgesia in open cholecystectomy.. J Clin Anesth 2004;16:262‐265.
    pubmed: 15261316
  34. Toribio RE, Kohn CW, Rourke KM. Effects of hypercalcemia on serum concentrations of magnesium, potassium, and phosphate and urinary excretion of electrolytes in horses.. Am J Vet Res 2007;68:543‐554.
    pubmed: 17472456
  35. Sudhof TC. Calcium control of neurotransmitter release.. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2012;4:a011353.
    pmc: PMC3249630pubmed: 22068972
  36. Li K‐W, Yu YP, Zhou C. Calcium channel α(2)δ(1) proteins mediate trigeminal neuropathic pain states associated with aberrant excitatory synaptogenesis.. J Biol Chem 2014;289:7025‐7037.
    pmc: PMC3945363pubmed: 24459143