IUBio

Lithium effect on the brain

alex taylor ataylor at superior.carleton.ca
Thu Jul 6 15:05:49 EST 1995


In article <Pine.SGI.3.91.950704181823.26759A-100000 at chcmga>,
Mr R.B. Ostler <rbostler at chcmga> wrote:
>
>
>On Fri, 30 Jun 1995, Tremblay Guy wrote:
>
>> Hello everybody
>> 
>> I am currently working on interaction between nucleic acids and lithium. Could
>> someone explain how the Lithium is said to fight against manic depression? I
>> know of one hypothesis stating that it stabilizes phospholipids present in
>> neuron membranes. Also, it is known that it increases the quantity of
>> inositol-phosphate (inhibition of inositol phosphatase???). How is this
>> achieved? I'd enjoy to know more about concurrent hypothesis. Thank you very
>> much and have a nice day!     8^)   
>> 
>> Guy Tremblay. Universite de Montreal. Department of Biochemistry.
>> tremblgu at medcn.umontreal.ca
>> 
>Reply
>I have heard that the lithium ion with its large solvent cage interferes
> with the Na+ and K+ channels in neurotransmission,( although I dont know 
>how true this is.) > > 

It also inhibits the degradation of certain products of the IP3/Ca++
second messenger cascade, I believe primarily IP4.




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