The effect of chronic lithium application on the mineral content of rat bone and soft tissues.

Rats were treated with lithium chloride over 6 weeks. During the experiment, determinations of serum calcium, magnesium and phosphorus revealed no changes due to the therapy. Postmortem examinations of liver, skeletal muscle, and femur minerals as well as bone histology showed these organs to be unaffected by lithium application. Only body weight gain was in part increased by lithium.