title: Lithium-induced alterations in nucleoside triphosphate levels in human brain: a proton-decoupled 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy study.
abstract: We examined how lithium's demonstrated effects on various cellular processes in human brain would be reflected in the (31)P magnetic resonance spectra of living human beings with respect to brain high-energy phosphate metabolites. Eight healthy volunteers received a baseline (31)P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) scan, after which they received lithium carbonate, 900 mg/day, for 14 days. Follow-up MRS scans were obtained on day 7 and on day 14. We detected a lithium-induced decrease in alpha-, beta-, gamma- and total nucleoside triphosphate NTP levels with chronic administration of lithium. On day 7, significant decreases were noted in gamma-NTP (14%) and total NTP (11%) levels. There was a trend for a decrease in beta-NTP (11%) levels. On day 14, significant decreases were noted in alpha-NTP (7%) and total NTP (8%) levels. There was a trend for a decrease in beta-NTP (16%) levels. Lithium caused a 25% reduction in inorganic phosphate (P(i)) levels on day 14. The theoretical relevance of the lithium-induced alterations on brain high-energy phosphates to the lithium-induced modifications of neuroplasticity is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Dokuz Eylul Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, Izmir, Turkey. agul_yildiz@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Aysegul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.forename: Constance M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Gary S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Sachs
authors.forename: Christina M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Demopulos
authors.forename: Zeliha
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tunca
authors.forename: Zubeyde
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Erbayraktar
authors.forename: Perry F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Renshaw
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016651:Lithium Carbonate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D043583:Nucleoside-Triphosphatase / Q000378:metabolism*; D010710:Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D011522:Protons
chemical_list: D018692:Antimanic Agents; D010710:Phosphates; D011522:Protons; D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D043583:Nucleoside-Triphosphatase