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. 1974 Sep;52(1):19–26. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1974.tb09682.x

The role of brain 5-hydroxytryptamine in the hyperactivity produced in rats by lithium and monoamine oxidase inhibition

DG Grahame-Smith, AR Green
PMCID: PMC1776910  PMID: 4281339

Abstract

1 Administration to rats of LiCl (3 mEq/kg) subcutaneously twice daily for 3 days followed by monoamine oxidase inhibition with either tranylcypromine (TCP; 20 mg/kg) or pargyline (75 mg/kg) on the fourth day produces a syndrome of hyperactivity indistinguishable from that produced by monoamine oxidase inhibition and L-tryptophan administration.

2 At least 3 injections of LiCl (3 mEq/kg) are necessary before hyperactivity is seen but one dose of LiCl (10 mEq/kg) 5 h before TCP also caused hyperactivity. The hyperactivity is blocked by prior administration of p-chlorophenylalanine, a tryptophan hydroxylase inhibitor.

3 LiCl pretreatment does not alter the concentration of L-tryptophan in the brain. However after monoamine oxidase inhibition the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) accumulation was significantly greater in animals given lithium indicating an increase in 5-HT synthesis of 70%. This was confirmed by measuring 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid accumulation after probenecid (200 mg/kg).

4 The hyperactivity produced by the 5-HT analogue, 5-methoxy N,N-dimethyltryptamine was not potentiaed by lithium pretreatment but one injection of LiCl (3 mEq/kg) which did not alter the rate of 5-HT synthesis, did potentiate the hyperactivity following TCP (20 mg/kg) and L-tryptophan (50 mg/kg).

5 These results suggest that lithium administration may cause an initial alteration of the 5-HT available for release at the nerve ending, which is followed after subsequent treatment by an increase in the rate of 5-HT synthesis. The possible clinical significance of these findings is discussed.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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