title: Neurodegenerative changes in rat produced by lithium treatment.
abstract: Lithium is extensively used in psychiatric practice for the prevention and treatment of manic-depressive disorders. However, neurotoxicity attributed to lithium salts within therapeutic doses was also reported in patients, manifested by transient or persistent neurological deficits. In this study, morphological changes were examined in rats treated acutely and chronically with lithium. Pathological changes were observed in different brain regions including cerebral cortex, cerebellum, medulla oblongata, mesencephalon, thalamus, and pons, using a silver-copper impregnation technique for neurodegeneration. Vacuolization of brain tissue with subsequent formation of spongiosis was the prominent morphological feature following lithium administration. The zones of spongiosis were irregularly distributed throughout the brain. More intensive compact areas with spongiform changes were found in the cerebral cortex and medulla oblongata. Less pronounced vacuolization was noted in the pons and thalamic region. The cerebellum and mesencephalon appeared least affected. Vacuolization in the cerebellar cortex was found at loci with Purkinje cells, but the classical picture of spongiosis was not apparent. Data indicate that both acute and chronic lithium intoxication accelerated neurodegenerative changes normally seen with normal brain aging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Morphology, Institute of Experimental Morphology, Pathology and Anthropology with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., Bl. 25, Sofia, 1113, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Mashenka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dimitrova
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Petrova
authors.forename: Yordanka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gluhcheva
authors.forename: Dimitar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kadiysky
authors.forename: Stella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dimitrova
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kolyovska
authors.forename: Denislava
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Deleva
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D008094:Lithium / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018692:Antimanic Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D008094:Lithium