[Effect of lithium salts on neuropathological syndromes of spinal origin].

Experiments on noninbred rats were made to study the influence of lithium hydroxybutyrate on two patterns of spinal cord pathology: the generalized myoclonus and painful syndrome of spinal origin. The syndromes were induced by generators of pathologically enhanced excitation in the ventral and dorsal horns of the spinal cord. The effects of lithium chloride and sodium hydroxybutyrate were examined to compare the influence of lithium (cation) and hydroxybutyrate (anion) components to elucidate the role of each of the components. Lithium hydroxybutyrate appeared more effective, since it inhibited the generator of pathologically enhanced excitation in the appropriate structures, provoking the anticonvulsant effect in myoclonus and suppressing the painful syndrome.