title: Lithium-induced changes in the plasma and pituitary levels of luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone and prolactin in rats.
abstract: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, maintained under a controlled photoperiod of LD 14:10 (white lights on at 06:00 h, CST), were injected with lithium chloride and changes in the levels of plasma and pituitary homogenates of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin (PRL) were examined to evaluate the effects of this anti-manic drug on reproductive function. Two groups of rats were injected with lithium chloride intraperitoneally, twice daily at 09:00 and 16:00 h, for 2 and 7 days at a dosage of 2.5 meq/Kg body weight. Plasma and pituitary levels of LH, FSH and PRL were measured by radioimmunoassay. Plasma levels of LH were significantly (P less than 0.05) increased after 2 days of lithium treatment. In contrast, a significant (P less than 0.005) reduction in plasma levels of LH was evident when lithium injections were continued for 7 days. The plasma levels of FSH remained unaffected by lithium treatment by either time period. Lithium administered for 2 days did not bring about any significant alteration in the plasma levels of PRL, although there was a significant (P less than 0.002) reduction in plasma PRL levels after 7 days treatment. The concentrations of pituitary LH, FSH and PRL remained unchanged after 2 and 7 days of lithium treatment.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002712:Chlorides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008094:Lithium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018021:Lithium Chloride; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D002712:Chlorides; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D008094:Lithium; D018021:Lithium Chloride