[Chronobiologic aspect of the mechanism of action of lithium salts in experimental alcoholism].

Ethanol, used for 2 months in a 5% solution, disorganized the circadian cycle of the hystophysiologic activity of the rat epiphysis. During prolonged (course) administration in the doses close to those used at the clinic lithium chloride normalized the mentioned changes and also prevented their development in case of joint two-months use of ethanol and lithium salt. This effect of the drug correlates with the inhibition or prevention of the ethanol preference development observed under these perimental conditions. A possible interrelationship between the discovered capacity of lithium salt to normalize the chronobiological derangements of the epiphysis and clinical efficacy of these salts in alcoholism and other affective periodical disorders is discussed.