title: Lithium normalizes elevated intracellular sodium.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Both mania and bipolar depression are characterized by elevations of intracellular sodium concentrations. This observation has been purported to be central to the pathophysiology of abnormal moods in bipolar illness. Reduction of sodium influx is a proposed shared mechanism of action of effective mood stabilizers, but direct documentation of this effect for lithium has never been demonstrated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Flame spectroscopic determinations of intracellular sodium concentration were performed in the human glioma cell line, LN292, after treatment with the sodium pump inhibitor, ouabain, and co-treatment with ouabain and lithium.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ouabain 0.1 microM doubles the intracellular sodium concentration after 3 days. Pretreatment with lithium 1 mM for 1 week normalizes intracellular sodium.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first demonstration that lithium can normalize abnormally elevated intracellular sodium levels. This may be an important mechanism of lithium action.
authors: Mood Disorders Research Program, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Loiusville, KY 40292, USA.
authors: Xian
authors: X
authors: Huang
authors: Zhenmin
authors: Z
authors: Lei
authors: Rif S
authors: RS
authors: El-Mallakh
mesh_terms: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005910:Glioma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D017136:Ion Transport / Q000187:drug effects*; D016651:Lithium Carbonate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D010042:Ouabain / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012964:Sodium / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013057:Spectrum Analysis
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D015222:Sodium Channels; D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D010042:Ouabain; D012964:Sodium