Effect of Lithium on Concentrations of Glutamate and GABA Levels in Amygdala and Hypothalamus of Rat

LITHIUM salts have been used to treat manic-depressive psychosis 1,2 and reduce aggressive behaviour in animals 3–5 . The hypothalamus and limbic structures, known to be involved in emotional behaviour, responded to lithium with specific changes in electrolyte distribution 6 and EEG pattern 7 , respectively. “Attack” and “flight” behaviour associated with hypothalamic sites was evoked by glutamate and blocked by γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) 8 . We have, therefore, studied the effects of lithium treatment, acute and prolonged, on the glutamate and GABA levels in the amygdala and hypothalamus of the rat.