Abstract

Lithium is a drug of choice for treatment of some psychological disorders including manic depression. Wistar Rats (male and female) were housed in individual improvised cages. The rats were acclimatized for two weeks after which they were randomly grouped into 3 viz control, lithium treated and lithium with saline treated group and treated for four weeks. The lithium treated group received 40 mM lithium bicarbonate per kg of feed for the first 1 week while the dosage was increased to 60mM per kg of feed for the rest of the 3 weeks. Lithium saline group received saline solution in addition to lithium. The control group was given normal feed and water liberally for the period of the experiment. At the end of the experiment the serum and the tissue cholesterol and triglycerides were quantified and the serum lithium level also determined. The results showed significant values for weight loss, serum lithium and cholesterol. The lipid parameters generally decreased. In conclusion the systemic changes in plasma lipid parameters at the cellular level induce changes in metabolism and cell membrane and this should be considered seriously in patients who are under lithium therapy for a long period because the clinically important consequence is significant.

Key words: Wistar rats, lithium, lipid parameters, cell membrane.