Acute effects of lithium on hippocampal kindled seizures.

The effects of lithium chloride on seizure activity generated by stimulation of hippocampal kindled rats were studied. Acute administration of 0, 0.25, 0.50, 1.5, 3.0, and 5.0 mEq/kg i.p. resulted in serum levels ranging from clinically subtherapeutic to toxic during the subsequent 4 h. Afterdischarge threshold and seizure severity were unchanged by these levels of lithium. Afterdischarge duration was somewhat prolonged, reaching a significant level only for the 3.0-mEq/kg dose. It is concluded that lithium shows a minor proconvulsant effect after acute administration in the kindled hippocampal seizure model.