Summary
The effect of a single injection of various doses of lithium chloride was tested on conditioned avoidance behavior and on the accumulation of DOPA and 5-HTP after inhibition of aromatic amino acid decarboxylase. Lithium specifically suppressed conditioned avoidance behavior and reduced formation of DOPA, but not 5-HTP. The behavioral effect of lithium could be completely antagonized with additional L-DOPA treatment. The results indicate that lithium has a neuroleptlike effect on avoidance behavior, and it is suggested that some of the behavioral effects of lithium may be mediated via interference with central catecholaminergic mechanisms.
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Berggren, U., Ahlenius, S. & Engel, J. Effects of acute lithium administration on conditioned avoidance behavior and monoamine synthesis in rats. J. Neural Transmission 47, 1–10 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01256634
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01256634