Behavioral, metabolic and histological aspects of lithium and ethanol interaction.

Behavioral, biochemical and histological techniques were used to evaluate the possible interaction between a lithium salt and ethanol. Injection of a single dosage of ethanol into mice pretreated with LiCl for 14 days enhanced spontaneous locomotor activity for the initial 60 min of testing compared to respective control. Drinking of 0.4% of LiCl solution for 25 consecutive days induced hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase (L-ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (L-ALDH). The LiCl treatment increased Vmax of both enzymes in the same order and magnitude. The apparent Km of L-ADH was increased by LiCl while that of L-ALDH remained unchanged from respective controls. Organ histopathology indicates decreased germinal activity of the mouse spleen by the LiCl treatment. A mild chronic perivascular inflammation and slight hypercellularity of the myocardium was also noted in the heart of LiCl-treated mice.