Premium
THE EFFECT OF LITHIUM TREATMENT ON ERYTHROCYTE MEMBRANE ATPase ACTIVITIES AND ERYTHROCYTE ION CONTENT
Author(s) -
HESKETH J.E.,
LOUDON J.B.,
READING H.W.,
GLEN A.I.M.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
british journal of clinical pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.216
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1365-2125
pISSN - 0306-5251
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1978.tb01715.x
Subject(s) - lithium (medication) , potassium , atpase , medicine , chemistry , sodium , endocrinology , magnesium , membrane , erythrocyte membrane , red blood cell , biochemistry , enzyme , organic chemistry
1 ATPase activities were studied in erythrocyte membranes prepared from blood of patients suffering from affective disorders. 2 Long‐term (9–12 months) administration of lithium led to an increase in the erythrocyte membrane Na/K ATPase activity (54%) when studied on an age and sex matched basis or when the patients were studied before and after treatment. The Mg ATPase activity was also increased (38%) but there was no consistent effect of lithium treatment on Ca stimulated ATPase activity in the membranes. It is suggested that the effect of lithium treatment on Na/K ATPase was due to recovery of the patients rather than an effect of the drug. 3 MgATPase activity increased regardless of clinical condition. Short‐term lithium treatment (2–4 weeks) led to increased Mg ATPase activity (43%). These results suggest that lithium treatment itself causes an increase in Mg ATPase activity and that this effect is not dependent on changes in protein synthesis. 4 Lithium treatment (long‐term) increased the erythrocyte sodium content by 15%. No effect on plasma sodium, magnesium, potassium or erythrocyte magnesium and potassium was observed.