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Lithium normalizes elevated intracellular sodium
Author(s) -
Huang Xian,
Lei Zhenmin,
ElMallakh Rif S
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
bipolar disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.285
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1399-5618
pISSN - 1398-5647
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-5618.2007.00429.x
Subject(s) - intracellular , lithium (medication) , ouabain , sodium , mania , chemistry , mood stabilizer , pharmacology , bipolar disorder , endocrinology , medicine , biophysics , biochemistry , biology , organic chemistry
Background: Both mania and bipolar depression are characterized by elevations of intracellular sodium concentrations. This observation has been purported to be central to the pathophysiology of abnormal moods in bipolar illness. Reduction of sodium influx is a proposed shared mechanism of action of effective mood stabilizers, but direct documentation of this effect for lithium has never been demonstrated. Methods: Flame spectroscopic determinations of intracellular sodium concentration were performed in the human glioma cell line, LN292, after treatment with the sodium pump inhibitor, ouabain, and co‐treatment with ouabain and lithium. Results: Ouabain 0.1 μ M doubles the intracellular sodium concentration after 3 days. Pretreatment with lithium 1 mM for 1 week normalizes intracellular sodium. Conclusion: This is the first demonstration that lithium can normalize abnormally elevated intracellular sodium levels. This may be an important mechanism of lithium action.