Naylor G J, Smith A H, Dick E G, Dick D A, McHarg A M, Chambers C A
Psychol Med. 1980 Aug;10(3):521-5. doi: 10.1017/s0033291700047413.
Erythrocyte Na-K ATPase and sodium pump site numbers were estimated in groups of depressed, manic and recovered patients. The activity of Na-K ATPase per pump site was lower in the depressed group than in the recovered group. In the manic group Na-K ATPase was lower than that of the recovered group, whereas there was no difference in the pump site numbers. In the more severe manics the activity of Na-K ATPase per pump site was significantly lower than that of the recovered patients. Therefore, the change occurring in the erythrocyte membrane cation carrier in manic-depressive psychosis is probably in the activity of individual Na-K ATPase molecules and not in the number of Na-K ATPase molecules per cell.