J Korean Med Sci.  1995 Feb;10(1):7-13. 10.3346/jkms.1995.10.1.7.

Lithium-induced inhibition of Na-K ATPase and Ca ATPase activities in rat brain synaptosome

• Cho YW

• KMID: 1129859
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.1995.10.1.7

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.

MeSH Terms

Animal
Brain/*enzymology
Ca(2+)-Transporting ATPase/*antagonists & inhibitors
Lithium/*pharmacology
Male
Na(+)-K(+)-Exchanging ATPase/*antagonists & inhibitors
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Synaptosomes/*enzymology