title: Lithium treatment strongly inhibits choline transport in human erythrocytes.
abstract: 1 The influx of [(14)C]-choline and the efflux of (22)Na in human erythrocytes were measured in vitro using blood from patients treated with lithium, patients not on lithium and healthy individuals. 2 The administration of lithium to patients significantly reduces the transport of choline; during the first 6 weeks of treatment the influx of choline is about half the normal rate, later it falls to around 10%. 3 This inhibition of choline transport is not dependent on the presence of lithium in the incubation medium. 4 The active and passive efflux of sodium are apparently not affected by lithium treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge Medical School, Hills Road, Cambridge.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lingsch
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Lyle
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Martin