Abstract
The effects of lithium and chlorpromazine chronically administered alone and together on the dopamine metabolism in the rat striatum and frontal cortex were investigated by measurement of the levels of dopamine (DA) and its main metabolite, homovanillic acid (HVA). Long-term chlorpromazine administration caused a significant increase in the striatal DA level and a decrease in that of HVA and HVA/DA ratio without any changes in those of the frontal cortex. The prolonged administration of lithium elevated the striatal levels of both HVA and DA, but no change in the frontal cortex was observed. The concurrent administration of chlorpromazine and lithium caused a significant increase in the frontal cortical DA level and a decrease in that of HVA and HVA/DA ratio. The striatal DA and HVA levels increased under the effect of the combined treatment, while the HVA/DA ratio remained unchanged.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andén NE, Roos BE, Werdinius B (1963) On the occurrence of homovanillic acid in brain and cerobrospinal fluid and its determination by a fluorometric method. Life Sci 7:448–458
Ansell GB, Beeson MF (1968) A rapid and sensitive procedure for the combined assay of noradrenaline, dopamine and serotonin in a single brain sample. Anal Biochem 23:196–206
Awazi N, Guldberg HC (1978) On the interaction of 5-hydroxytryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptamine with dopamine metabolism in the striatum. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch Pharmacol 303:63–72
Bliss EL, Ailion J (1970) The effect of lithium upon brain neuroamines. Brain Res 24:305–310
Carlsson A (1978) Mechanism of action of neuroleptic drugs. In: Lipton MA, DiMascio A, Killam KF (eds) Psychopharmacology generation of progress. Raven Press, New York, p 1057
Corrodi H, Fuxe K, Schou M (1969) The effect of prolonged lithium administration on cerebral monoamine neurons in the rat. Life Sci 8:643–651
Costentin J, Marçais H, Protais P, Baudry M, De LaBaume S, Martres MP, Schwartz JC (1977) Rapid development of hypersensitivity of striatal dopamine receptors induced by alpha-methylparatyrosine and its prevention by protein synthesis inhibitors. Life Sci 21:307–314
Friedman E, Gershon S (1973) Effect of lithium on brain dopamine. Nature 243:520–521
Glowinski J, Iversen LL (1966) Regional studies of catecholamines in the rat brain. 1. The disposition of [3H]-norepinephrine, [3H]-dopamine and [3H]-dopa in various regions of the brain. J Neurochem 13:655–669
Ho AKS, Loh HH, Craves F, Hitzemann RS, Gershon S (1970) the effect of prolonged lithium treatment of the synthesis rate and turnover of monoamines in brain regions of rats. Eur J Pharmacol 10:72–78
Johnson G, Gershon S, Hekimian LJ (1968) Controlled evaluation of lithium and chlorpromazine in the treatment of manic states: An interim report. Comp Psychiatr 9:563–573
Juhl RP, Tsuang MT, Perry PJ (1977) Concomitant administration of haloperidol and lithium carbonate in acute mania. Dis Nerv Sys 38:675–676
Krishna NR, Taylor MA, Abrams R (1978) Combined haloperidol and lithium carbonate in treating manic patients. Comp Psychiatr 19:119–120
Lee CM, Wong PCL (1979) Effects of morphine on the rat striatal dopamine metabolism. Biochem Pharmacol 28:163–170
McNulty J, D'Donovan DJ, Leonard BE (1978) The acute and chronic effects of D-amphetamine, chlorpromazine, amitriptyline and lithium chloride on adenosine 5-triphosphatases in different regions of the rat brain. Biochem Pharmacol 27:1049–1053
Prien RF, Caffey EM, Klett CJ (1972) A comparison of lithium carbonate and chlorpromazine in the treatment of excited schizoaffectives. Arch Gen Psychiatry 27:182–189
Scatton B (1977) Differential regional development of tolerance to increase in dopamine turnover upon repeated neuroleptic administration. Eur J Pharmacol 46:363–369
Schou M (1976) Clinical prophylactic effects and pharmacology of lithium. Neurosci Res Prog Bull 14:117–121
Waldmeier PC, Maitre L (1976) Clozapine: Reduction of the initial dopamine turnover increase by repeated treatment. Eur J Pharmacol 38:197–203
Westerink BHC, Korf J (1976) Acidic dopamine metabolites in cortical areas of the rat brain. Brain Res 113:411–416
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Eroĝlu, L., Hizal, A. & Koyuncuoĝlu, H. The effect of long-term concurrent administration of chlorpromazine and lithium on the striatal and frontal cortical dopamine metabolism in rats. Psychopharmacology 73, 84–86 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00431108
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00431108