VOLUNTARY LITHIUM INTAKE, ‘ANTIDOTAL THIRST’ AND CONCURRENT BEHAVIOUR OF RATS

• Published in: British journal of pharmacology 1975-11, Vol.55 (3), p.409-413
• Main Authors: LANGHAM, R.J., SYME, G.J., SYME, L.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Behavior, Animal - drug effects; Body Weight - drug effects; Drinking Behavior - drug effects; Lithium - pharmacology; Male; Rats; Sodium Chloride - pharmacology; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0007-1188; 1476-5381
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1975.tb06945.x

1 Voluntary intake of various pair combinations of fluids (100 mM, 10 mM LiCl, 10 mM NaCl, water) and body weight was measured daily in rats. 2 More lithium was consumed when water was available. 3 When offered a lithium‐sodium choice the rats did not consume significantly more saline than water on the previous trial. While saline consumption increased over the two days, lithium decreased slightly. 4 Following the lithium‐only trial, water and saline were provided. Marked polydipsia was observed on the first day and the rats drank more water than saline. On the second day there was a significant drop in saline intake while water consumption returned to baseline levels. 5 Behavioural measurements overall confirmed the depressant effect of lithium: decreased ambulation and rearing and increased time spent immobile/grooming. 6 These findings are discussed with reference to lithium toxicity, which may be a confounding variable in studies concerned with the effects of this salt on the behaviour of laboratory rodents. Behavioural irritability such as aggression reported in situations using long‐term lithium treatment may be reduced by provision for voluntary saline consumption.