RENAL ELIMINATION OF LITHIUM IN RATS WITH LITHIUM INTOXICATION

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 199  (3) , 483-489
Abstract
The relation between urine flow (V), Li clearance (CLi) and Na clearance (CNa) was studied in rats given food containing Li in amounts leading to inhibition of distal reabsorption of H2O and Na. Maximum inhibition of the reabsorption of H2O was reached at serum Li concentrations of about 1 mM. At higher serum Li levels the rats developed intoxication due to a lowering of CLi and a consequent rise of the serum Li concentration. The intoxication was characterized by a proportional decrease of V and CLi. The decrease of V and CLi was not related to changes of CNa. Li was probably reabsorbed in the proximal tubules in parallel with Na and the lowering of CLi might have been due to increased fractional proximal reabsorption of Li and Na compensatory to inhibition of the distal reabsorption of Na.