title: Increased erythrocyte Na+ pump and NaK-ATPase activity during lithium therapy.
abstract: A significant mean increase of 18% in erythrocyte sodium pump activity (p less than 0.01, t test) was observed during lithium treatment, as compared with the activity before lithium treatment was started, in a group of 20 patients who were treated with lithium therapy for a variety of psychiatric conditions. The mean level of erythrocyte membrane ouabain-sensitive ATPase activity in a group of 35 subjects who were receiving lithium therapy was significantly higher than that of a different group of 38 subjects who were not receiving lithium therapy (p less than 0.005, t test). These observations may offer a biochemical mode of action for lithium in the treatment of bipolar affective disorder, since a deficiency of sodium pump activity has been shown to be associated with that disorder.
mesh_terms: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001693:Biological Transport, Active; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000201:enzymology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010042:Ouabain / Q000494:pharmacology; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D010042:Ouabain; D008094:Lithium; D012964:Sodium; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases