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Magnesium (Mg2+) is an essential mineral without known specific regulatory mechanisms. In ruminants, plasma Mg2+concentration depends primarily on the balance between Mg2+absorption and Mg2+excretion. The primary site of Mg2+absorption is the rumen, where Mg2+is apically absorbed by both potential-dependent and potential-independent uptake mechanisms, reflecting involvement of ion channels and electroneutral transporters, respectively. Transport is energised in a secondary active manner by a basolateral Na+/Mg2+exchanger. Ruminal transport of Mg2+is significantly influenced by a variety of factors such as high K+concentration, sudden increases of ammonia, pH, and the concentration of SCFA. Impaired Mg2+absorption in the rumen is not compensated for by increased transport in the small or large intestine. While renal excretion can be adjusted to compensate precisely for any surplus in Mg2+uptake, a shortage in dietary Mg2+cannot be compensated for either via skeletal mobilisation of Mg2+or via up-regulation of ruminal absorption. In such situations, hypomagnesaemia will lead to decrease of a Mg2+in the cerebrospinal fluid and clinical manifestations of tetany. Improved knowledge concerning the factors governing Mg2+homeostasis will allow reliable recommendations for an adequate Mg2+intake and for the avoidance of possible disturbances. Future research should clarify the molecular identity of the suggested Mg2+transport proteins and the regulatory mechanisms controlling renal Mg excretion as parameters influencing Mg2+homeostasis.

The present study investigated the influence of bacterial metabolites on monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) expression in pigs usingin vivo,ex vivoandin vitroapproaches. Piglets (n24) were fed high-protein (26 %) or low-protein (18 %) diets with or without fermentable carbohydrates. Colonic digesta samples were analysed for a broad range of bacterial metabolites. The expression ofMCT1,TNF-α, interferon γ (IFN-γ) andIL-8was determined in colonic tissue. The expression ofMCT1was lower and ofTNF-αandIL-8was higher with high-protein diets (PMCT1expression was positively correlated withl-lactate, whereas negatively correlated with NH3and putrescine (PIL-8andTNF-αwas negatively correlated withl-lactate and positively correlated with NH3and putrescine, whereas the expression ofIFN-γwas positively correlated with histamine and 4-ethylphenol (P4Cl or TNF-α as selected bacterial metabolites or mediators of inflammation. ColonicMCT1expression was higher after incubation with Na-butyrate (P4Cl or TNF-α (PMCT1expression by Na-butyrate (linear,P4Cl (linear,PMCT1in the colon of pigs, which appears to be linked to NH3- and TNF-α-mediated signalling.