Lithium decreases 5-HT1Aand 5-HT2receptor and α2-adrenoreceptor mediated function in mice

✍ Scribed by G. M. Goodwin; R. J. DeSouza; A. J. Wood; A. R. Green

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1986
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 590 KB
• Volume: 90
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0033-3158
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00174065

✦ Synopsis

Lithium administration (LiCl, 10 mmol/kg, SC on day 1, followed by 3 mmol/kg twice daily subsequently) for 14 days to mice produced attenuation of the hypothermic response to injection of 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT, 0.5 mg/kg SC). Head twitch responses to the 5-HT-receptor agonist 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (2.5 mg/kg IP) and to precursor loading with carbidopa (25 mg/kg, IP) and 5-hydroxytryptophan (100 mg/kg IP) were similarly attenuated. By contrast with this reduction of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) function mediated by the 5-HT1A and 5-HT2 receptor sub-types, repeated lithium administration had no effect on the motor response to a putative 5-HT1B receptor agonist 5-methoxy-3(1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-4-yl)1H indole (RU 24969, 3 mg/kg IP). alpha 2 adrenoceptor function, assessed by the sedation response to clonidine (0.25 mg/kg, IP), was also attenuated by repeated lithium administration. It is proposed that these actions may explain the emergence of lithium as an adjunct to the treatment of refractory depressive illness.