title: Lithium-induced inhibition of Na-K ATPase and Ca ATPase activities in rat brain synaptosome.
abstract: To explore the action mechanism of lithium in the brain, the author investigated the effects of lithium on Na-K ATPase and Ca ATPase in rat brain synaptosomes prepared from forebrains by the method of Booth and Clark. The activities of Na-K ATPase and Ca ATPase were assayed by the level of inorganic phosphate liberated from the hydrolysis of ATP. Lithium at the optimum therapeutic concentration of 1 mM decreased the activity of Na-K ATPase from the control value of 19.08 +/- 0.29 to 18.27 +/- 0.10 micromoles Pi/mg protein/h and also reduced the activity of Ca ATPase from 6.38 +/- 0.12 to 5.64 +/- 0.12 micromoles Pi/mg protein/h. The decreased activity of Na-K ATPase will decrease the rate of Ca2+ efflux, probably via an Na-Ca exchange mechanism and will increase the rate of Ca2+ entry by the depolarization of nerve terminals. The reduced activity of Ca ATPase will result in the decreased efflux of Ca2+. As a Conclusion, it can be speculated that lithium elevates the intrasynaptosomal Ca2+ concentration via inhibition of the activities of Na-K ATPase and Ca ATPase, and this increased [Ca2+]i will cause the release of neurotransmitters and neurological effects of lithium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Y W
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology*; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D008094:Lithium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D013574:Synaptosomes / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D008094:Lithium; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase