Changes in intracellular Mg adenosine triphosphate and ionized Mg2+ during blood storage: detection by 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to measure changes in intra-erythrocyte Mg adenosine triphosphate (MgATP) and free Mg2+ during blood storage at 4 degrees C in standard citrate preservation media. The extent of Mg2+ complexation of ATP and the concentration of free Mg2+ were measured from the Mg2+-dependent chemical shift differences, at 22 degrees C, between the P beta and P alpha resonances of intracellular ATP. This difference changed from 721.0 +/- 1.4 Hz (mean +/- SE) on the day of collection to 741.0 +/- 3.4 Hz after three to seven days and 774.0 +/- 2.8 Hz after 11 to 40 days storage in either acid-citrate-dextrose (ACD) or citrate-phosphate- dextrose-adenine (CPDA-1). Changes in intracellular pH, detected from shifts in the intracellular Pi resonance, averaged 0.27 units after 11 to 40 days of storage. These data indicate a sizable decrease in the extent of Mg2+ complexation of ATP, and a decrease by a factor of 2.6 in free Mg2+, during the shelf-life of blood stored in ACD or CPDA-1.