Lithium alters regional rat brain myo-inositol at 2 and 4 weeks: an ex-vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy study at 18.8 T

Neuroreport. 2006 Aug 21;17(12):1323-6. doi: 10.1097/01.wnr.0000230501.40349.41.

Abstract

Lithium has been the mainstay of treatment for bipolar disorder. Early studies suggest that lithium acts via inositol depletion. This study assesses the effect of 1, 2 and 4 weeks of lithium treatment on myo-inositol concentrations across several brain regions. Thirty-six Sprague-Dawley rats were treated for 2 weeks with an intraperitoneal injection of either 1 mmol/kg/day, twice daily lithium chloride (n=18) or placebo (2 ml/kg of saline) (n=18). The rats were separated into three groups: 1 week, 2 weeks and 4 weeks. Brains were dissected into prefrontal, temporal and occipital cortical areas, as well as hippocampus, and analyzed at 18.8 T. Myo-inositol was quantified using the Chenomx Profiler software. Lithium did not alter myo-inositol concentrations at 1 week. A significant reduction exists in myo-inositol concentrations in lithium-treated rats at 2 and 4 weeks, across all four brain regions. Studies suggest brain region-specific alterations in myo-inositol concentrations among bipolar patients. Our findings suggest that lithium-induced reduction of myo-inositol is more global.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antimanic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Brain Chemistry / drug effects*
  • Brain* / anatomy & histology
  • Brain* / drug effects
  • Brain* / metabolism
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Inositol / metabolism*
  • Lithium Chloride / pharmacology*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / methods
  • Male
  • Models, Biological
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antimanic Agents
  • Inositol
  • Lithium Chloride