CHRONIC LITHIUM TREATMENT AND DOPAMINE-MEDIATED BEHAVIOR

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 15  (3) , 459-467
Abstract
The effect of 3-4 wk of chronic Li treatment in food on amphetamine-induced stereotypy, hyperactivity and hypothermia was examined in rats. The long-term Li treatment failed to inhibit these behaviors and even resulted in small but statistically significant potentiation of stereotypy and hypothermia. The absence of an inhibitory effect of Li on these dopaminergic processes is consistent with Li lack of antischizophrenic properties. Previous studies reporting conflicting results, including Li inhibition of amphetamine-induced hyperactivity, used acute or very short-term Li administration and/or did not verify serum Li levels to be at therapeutically equivalent levels.