Kanba_1991_Neuropharmacol_30_497

The effects of the lithium ion (Li+) on receptor-mediated synthesis of second messengers were determined, when cellular sodium channels were quiescent or excited, using the murine neuroblastoma clone (N1E-115). In this clone, lithium inhibited the receptor-mediated synthesis of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP and it also increased the accumulation of inositol phosphates by a receptor-mediated process. When veratridine (20 microM) excited the sodium channel, the effects of lithium were potentiated. However, tetrodotoxin, a sodium channel blocker, completely prevented this potentiation. These results suggest that when neurons are depolarizing actively and intraneuronal levels of lithium increase by entry through the sodium channel, lithium has a more potent intracellular effect. As a result, lithium would have more potent and selective effects in those pathologically-active neurons underlying manic-depressive disorder.