Analogous effects of organic calcium antagonists and magnesium on the epiphyseal growth plate.

Abstract

High doses of both calcium antagonists and magnesium lead to disorders in the early phase of calcification. Analogous to known mechanisms of calcification outside the bone, the calcium overload of cellular suborganelles, which may play a role in enchondral ossification, is assumed to be prevented or delayed by calcium antagonists and magnesium. In accordance with the relevant literature, which describes analogous cytoprotective effects of calcium antagonists and magnesium in association with extraskeletal calcification and ossification, the qualitative agreement of histologic findings in the epiphyseal growth plate suggests a homologous, primarily intracellular mechanism of action of both magnesium and organic calcium antagonists. This common mechanism of action of the two substances on the molar Mg-Ca quotient, with reference to intracellular calcium phosphate mineralization, is regarded as the cause of the analogous effects.