Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1
pubmed:dateCreated
1987-11-20
pubmed:abstractText
Because lithium is extruded from cells by means of coupled exchange for external sodium (Na+-Li+ countertransport), we hypothesized that clinical treatment with this agent could lead to significant augmentation of net cellular sodium influx. We therefore directly measured sodium influx in vitro using erythrocytes (RBCs) from 27 depressed bipolar patients. When cells were loaded with sufficient lithium to maximally stimulate Na+-Li+ countertransport activity (5.1 mmoles/1 RBCs), there was a significant 44% increase in mean sodium influx. To approximate clinical conditions more closely, we also studied sodium influx in a subset of eight subjects after loading cells with 0, 0.40, 0.66, and 1.55 mmoles lithium/1 RBCs. Over this range of lithium concentrations, sodium influx increased progressively. In separate experiments, we found that RBC sodium content measured in eight subjects did not change significantly during a 4-week course of lithium treatment. Thus, excess cellular sodium during such treatment may be extruded by increased activity of the membrane Na+-K+ pump, which has electrogenic properties and thereby could augment the membrane potential. In the nervous system, such an effect could stabilize cell membranes electrophysiologically, and possibly affect processes, such as behavioral sensitization or kindling, proposed to have a role in the development of recurrent affective disorders.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Sep
pubmed:issn
0165-1781
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
22
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
49-59
pubmed:dateRevised
2008-4-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1987
pubmed:articleTitle
Stimulation of cell membrane sodium transport activity by lithium: possible relationship to therapeutic action.
pubmed:affiliation
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.