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Lithium and inositol lipid-linked signalling mechanisms

1987; Elsevier BV; Volume: 8; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0165-6147(87)90181-7

1873-3735

Alan H. Drummond,

Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

Lithium has long been used in the treatment of manic disorders. Although it is a mainstay of psychiatric therapeutics, it has a very narrow therapeutic index and its acute toxicity is confined almost exclusively to the CNS. The mechanism of action of lithium is unknown, although various theories abound. These focus mainly on ideas of antagonism between lithium and other metal ions for ion-dependent physiological processes. But none of these theories explain the central selectivity of the effect. Alan Drummond describes new evidence that lithium might exert its therapeutic action by interfering with inositol lipid metabolism. The fact that cells in the CNS do not have access to plasma sources of inositol, but may instead have to rely on de-novo synthesis offers a rational explanation for its selectivity.