NUCLEAR MICROANALYSIS OF THE EFFECT OF MAGNESIUM AND TAURINE ON THE IONIC DISTRIBUTION IN THE HUMAN AMNIOTIC MEMBRANE

The effect of the addition of MgCl2 and of taurine on the concentratio n and distribution of ions, present in physiological fluid, in epithel ial (EL) and compact (CL) layers of the human amniotic membrane has be en investigated using the Bordeaux nuclear microprobe. Particle induce d X-ray emission and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry techniques had been used to provide quantitative measurements. In physiological medium (Hanks' solution), the monovalent ions (Na+, K+, Cl-) concentra tions were identical in both layers. This data indicates that the comp act layer acts as a buffer which fix minerals. Mg2+, Ca2+ and phosphor us levels were higher in EL than in CL. The addition of MgCl2 in Hanks ' solution induced a decrease of the monovalent ions concentration in both layers except Na+ level in EL which remained constant, an increas e of the Mg2+ level in both layers while the Ca2+ and phosphorus remai ned constant. Addition of taurine in the Hanks' solution implicated se veral observations: taurine had no effect on the Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+ and p hosphorus levels in EL and CL, but decreased the K+ and Cl- concentrat ions in both layers. The quantitative results may be related to electr ophysiological observations on ionic exchanges through channels and pa racellular pathways. The nuclear microanalysis processing may be of gr eat interest to explain pregnancies complicated by poly or oligohydram nios.