RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The effect of chronic lithium treatment on rat pineal N-acetyltransferase rhythm.
JF Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
JO J Pharmacol Exp Ther
FD American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
SP 121
OP 124
VO 219
IS 1
A1 E Friedman
A1 F D Yocca
YR 1981
UL http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/219/1/121.abstract
AB Lithium chloride administration to rats for 5 weeks caused a significant decrease in dark-induced activity of rat pineal N-acetyltransferase (E.C.2.3.1.5.). This effect is not observed after 3 days or 3 weeks of treatment. Furthermore, chronic lithium treatment suppressed the amplitude and may have delayed the peak of the diurnal cycle of N-acetyltransferase activity. In vitro, various concentrations of lithium chloride (2, 4 and 10 microM) did not affect N-acetyltransferase activity. Beta adrenergic receptor binding studies with [3H]dihydroalprenolol indicated a decrease in number of pineal beta adrenergic receptors in rats treated chronically with lithium. These results are consistent with a lithium-induced subsensitivity of pineal beta adrenergic receptors and may explain the effect of lithium on pineal-mediated cyclic behaviors.