Elevation of Blood Magnesium and Potassium in Avian Erythromyeloblastic Leukosis. ∗

Abstract

Summary

Studies were made on the levels of Ca+ +, Na+, Mg++ and K+ in the plasma of birds with erythromyeloblastic leukosis. No changes from the normal were observed with the extracellular elements Ca++ and Na+. In contrast, the ordinarily intracellular elements Mg+ + and K+ were elevated in close relationship to the capacity of the plasmas to dephos-phorylate adenosine triphosphate and, consequently, to the virus content of the plasmas. The source of the abnormal amounts of Mg+ + and K+ have not been determined. The possible origin of the elements was discussed.