Dissociation of the toxic and behavioral effects of lithium on rats.
In a previous study we have shown that weight loss or animal death as a sign of toxicity due to chronic administration of lithium in rats is more intense among male than female adult animals (5 months old), and is not observed in growing male and female animals (2 months old) (Teixeira and Karniol, Acta Pharmacologica et Toxicologica, 51: 1-5, 1982). In this study we report the results obtained for the same animals in the open field test. The ip administration of 3.0 mEq/day of LiCl to female rats for 28 days produced a decrease in rearing (60- and 150-day old animals) and ambulation (150-day old animals) in relation to control animals. Male rats of both ages submitted to the same treatment showed no changes in rearing or ambulation. The low level of activity observed in the male control groups during the 2nd and 4th experimental week may probably explain the lack of lithium effect on the number of rearing (both age groups) and ambulation (older animals) activities. We conclude that, under the present experimental conditions, the behavioral effects of lithium on female rats are dissociated from the toxic action of this substance.
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008094:Lithium / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D012737:Sex Factors
D008094:Lithium