Lithium is a type of psychotropic drug, belonging to the normothymics
classification group. It is used in the treatment of affective disorders such as manic and
hypomanic phases of bipolar disorder and severe and treatment-resistant depression. It
also has anti-suicidal properties and a neuroprotective effect on neurodegenerative
diseases. This article presents findings regarding the effects of lithium in experimental
pathology of the central nervous system in mice and rats. In clinical practice, lithium is
the standard for pharmacological treatment of bipolar disorders. The drug is also
effective in treating depression. It suppresses aggressiveness and is a therapeutic agent
in the treatment of chronic neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's
and Huntington's disease. Lithium salts however can be highly toxic even in relatively
low doses. The mechanism of action of lithium salts can be realized through the
inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase -3β (GSK-3β) and inositol monophosphatase 1
(IMAP1). Inhibition of GSK-3β is considered to be one of the fundamental
mechanisms in the implementation of the action of lithium ions on the body. Lithium
stabilizes adenylate cyclase activity and acts as an antagonist of sodium ions in nerve
and muscle cells. One of the ways to deliver lithium to target organs is to combine
lithium salts with a sorbent (a solid porous carrier). This approach made it possible to
create modified sorbents for the prolonged delivery of components such as lithium and
silver. A new drug – a complex of lithium citrate and a sorbent – aluminum oxide and
polydimethylsiloxane (lithium complex) was created at the Research Institute of
Clinical and Experimental Lymphology – a branch of the Institute of Cytology and
Genetics SB RAS. Its anxiolytic and adaptogenic effects were observed over the course
of preclinical studies. The lithium complex improved cognitive functions in
experimental animals, influenced the electrophysiological activity of the brain and had
positive effects on the behavior of mice in the experimental model of chronic social
stress. The lithium complex is therefore a promising drug for the treatment of
neurological and psychoemotional disorders.
Keywords: Aluminum oxide, Aggression, Alcohol, Anxiety-depressive disorder, Behavior, Brain electrophysiology, Conditioned reflex, Caffeine, Depression, Enterosorbent, Lithium, Lithium toxicity, Mice, Normothymic drug, Physicalperformance, Polydimethylsilloxane, Prevention, Rats, Serotonin, Serotoninreceptors.
