Lithium increases serotonin release and decreases serotonin receptors in the hippocampus.
The effects of long-term lithium administration on pre- and postsynaptic processes involved in serotonergic neurotransmission were measured in rat hippocampus and cerebral cortex. Long-term lithium administration increased both basal and potassium chloride-stimulated release of endogenous serotonin from the hippocampus but not from the cortex. Serotonergic receptor binding was reduced in the hippocampus but not in the cortex. These results suggest a mechanism by which lithium may stabilize serotonin neurotransmission.
D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D002090:Butyrophenones / Q000378:metabolism*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects*; D008094:Lithium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013134:Spiperone / Q000378:metabolism*; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects
D002090:Butyrophenones; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D012701:Serotonin; D013134:Spiperone; D008094:Lithium