Lithium-induced changes in the plasma and pituitary levels of luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone and prolactin in rats.

Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, maintained under a controlled photoperiod of LD 14:10 (white lights on at 06:00 h, CST), were injected with lithium chloride and changes in the levels of plasma and pituitary homogenates of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin (PRL) were examined to evaluate the effects of this anti-manic drug on reproductive function. Two groups of rats were injected with lithium chloride intraperitoneally, twice daily at 09:00 and 16:00 h, for 2 and 7 days at a dosage of 2.5 meq/Kg body weight. Plasma and pituitary levels of LH, FSH and PRL were measured by radioimmunoassay. Plasma levels of LH were significantly (P less than 0.05) increased after 2 days of lithium treatment. In contrast, a significant (P less than 0.005) reduction in plasma levels of LH was evident when lithium injections were continued for 7 days. The plasma levels of FSH remained unaffected by lithium treatment by either time period. Lithium administered for 2 days did not bring about any significant alteration in the plasma levels of PRL, although there was a significant (P less than 0.002) reduction in plasma PRL levels after 7 days treatment. The concentrations of pituitary LH, FSH and PRL remained unchanged after 2 and 7 days of lithium treatment.