Summary
The aim of the present study was to investigate how chronic lithium treatment affects brain monoamine metabolism and amphetamine-induced locomotor stimulation in rats. Chronic lithium treatment was found to increase the synthesis of brain 5-hydroxytryptamine, an effect which may be mediatedvia increased brain levels of tryptophan. The synthesis and release of dopamine were, on the other hand, found to be decreased. Finally, chronic lithium treatment was found to suppress amphetamine-induced locomotor stimulation, probably due to counteraction by lithium on amphetamine-induced release of catecholamines.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alexander, P., van Kammen, D., Bunney, W.: Antipsychotic effects of lithium in schizophrenia. Am. J. Psychiat.136, 283–287 (1979).
Atack, C., Magnusson, T.: Individual elution of noradrenaline (together with adrenaline), dopamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine and histamine by means of mineral acid-organic solvent mixtures. J. Pharm. Pharmacol.22, 615–627 (1970).
Berggren, U., Tallstedt, L., Ahlenius, S., Engel, J.: The effect of lithium on amphetamine-induced locomotor stimulation. Psychopharmacology59, 41–45 (1978).
Berggren, U., Ahlenius, S., Engel, J.: Effects of acute lithium administration on conditioned avoidance behavior and monoamine synthesis in rats. J. Neural Transmission47, 1–10 (1980).
Berggren, U., Engel, J., Liljequist, S.: The effect of lithium on the locomotor stimulation induced by dependence-producing drugs. J. Neural Transmission50, 157–164 (1981).
Bunney, W., Post, R., Andersen, A., Kopanda, R.: A neuronal receptor sensitivity mechanism in affective illness. Communications in Psychopharmacology1, 393–405 (1977).
Carlsson, A.: In: Amphetamines and related compounds (Costa, E., Garattini, S., eds.), pp. 289–300. New York: Raven. 1970.
Carlsson, A., Davies, J. N., Kehr, W., Lindqvist, M., Atack, C.: Simultanous measurements of tyrosine and tryptophan hydroxylase activities in brain using an inhibitor of aromatic amino acid decarboxylase, Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch. Pharmacol.275, 153–168 (1972).
Carlsson, A., Kehr, W., Lindqvist, M.: The role of intraneuronal amine levels in the feed-back control of dopamine, noradrenaline and 5-hydroxytryptamine synthesis in rat brain. J. Neural Transmission39, 1–19 (1976).
Carlsson, A.: The contribution of drug research to investigating the nature of endogenous depression. Pharmacopsych.9, 2–10 (1976).
Carlsson, A.: Does dopamine play a role in schizophrenia? Psychol. Medicine7, 583–597 (1977).
Carlsson, A., Lindqvist, M.: Dependence of 5-HT and catecholamine synthesis on concentrations of precursor amino-acids in rat brain. NaunynSchmiedeberg's Arch. Pharmacol.303, 157–164 (1978).
Corrodi, H., Fuxe, K., Schou, M.: The effect of prolonged lithium administration on cerebral monoamine neurons in the rat. Life Sci.8, 643–651 (1969).
Flemenbaum, A.: Lithium inhibition of norepinephrine and dopamine receptors. Biological Psychiat.12, 563–572 (1977).
Friedman, E., Gershon, S.: Effect of lithium on brain dopamine. Nature243, 520–521 (1973).
Hirschowitz, J., Casper, R., Garver, D., Chang, S.: Lithium respone in good prognosis schizophrenia. Am. J. Psychiatry137, 916–920 (1980).
Katz, R. I., Chase, T. N., Kopin, I. J.: Evoked release of norepinephrine and serotonin from brain slices: Inhibition by lithium. Science162, 466–467 (1968).
Kehr, W., Carlsson, A., Lindqvist, M.: A method for the determination of 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) in brain. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch. Pharmacol.274, 273–280 (1972).
Perez-Cruet, J., Tagliamonte, A., Tagliamonte, P., Gessa, G. L.: Stimulation of serotonin synthesis by lithium. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.178, 325–330 (1971).
Pert, A., Rosenblatt, J. E., Sivit, C., Pert, C. B., Bunney, W. E.: Long-term treatment with lithium prevents the development of dopamine receptor supersensitivity. Science, 201, 171–173 (1978).
Poitou, P., Guerinot, F., Bohuon, C.: Effect of lithium on central metabolism of 5-hydroxytryptamine. Psychopharmacologia38, 75–80 (1974).
Sangdee, C., Franz, D.: Lithium enhancement of central 5-HT transmission induced by 5-HT precursors. Biological Psychiat.15, 59–75 (1980).
Schubert, J.: Effect of chronic lithium treatment on monoamine metabolism in rat brain. Psychopharmacologia32, 301–311 (1973).
Segal, D., Callaghan, M., Mandell, A.: Alterations in behaviour and catecholamine biosynthesis induced by lithium. Nature254, 58–59 (1975).
Sheard, M. H., Aghajanian, G. K.: Neuronally activated metabolism of brain serotonin: effect of lithium. Life Sci.9, 285–290 (1970).
Wiggins, R. C., Fuller, G., Enna, S. J.: Undernutrition and the development of brain neurotransmitter systems. Life Sci.35, 2045–2094 (1984).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Berggren, U. Effects of chronic lithium treatment on brain monoamine metabolism and amphetamine-induced locomotor stimulation in rats. J. Neural Transmission 64, 239–250 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01256470
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01256470