Effects of lithium and desipramine administration on agonist-stimulated inositol phosphate accumulation in rat cerebral cortex.

The effects of acute lithium and chronic desipramine administration on the inositol phosphate responses of rat cerebral cortical slices to noradrenaline, carbachol and 5-hydroxytryptamine, were determined. Acute injection of lithium (4 meq/kg s.c. 24 hr before sacrifice) significantly increased the inositol-1-phosphate response to noradrenaline, while chronic administration of desipramine (10 mg/kg i.p. for 3 weeks) produced a smaller increase in this parameter. Chronic desipramine also decreased the serotonin responses in terms of all three inositol phosphates measured. No potentiative or additive interactions between the lithium and desipramine effects were observed.