Potentiating effect of lithium chloride on aggressive behavior induced in mice by nialamide plus L-DOPA and by clonidine.

Effects of acute administration of LiCl on aggressive behavior and alterations in brain norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) contents induced by nialamide plus L-DOPA and by clonidine were examined in mice. Effects of LiCl on turnover and metabolism of brain NE were also investigated. LiCl potentiated the aggressiveness induced by both nialamide plus L-DOPA and by clonidine. Increase in levels of brain NE, DA and 5-HT by nialamide plus L-DOPA was not affected by LiCl. The potentiating effect of LiCl on clonidine aggression was not observed in mice pretreated with disulfiram. Although LiCl did not alter the steady state levels of brain NE, DA and 5-HT, it increased the turnover of NE and decreased the content of endogenous normetanephrine. These results favour the assumption that lithium reduces the ability of nerve terminal vesicles to store NE leading to an increased turnover and decreased concentration of NE at receptor sites.