Lithium ions increase action potential duration of mammalian neurons.

During Lucifer Yellow staining of mammalian neurons, intracellular recording revealed a prolongation of the action potential that is probably the result of leakage of lithium ions into the intracellular fluid. In experiments on dorsal root ganglion neurons intracellular iontophoresis of lithium ions also broadened the action potential. Cadmium, a calcium channel blocker, shortens the lithium-evoked wide actions potentials. The present experiments do not reveal whether lithium directly enhances inward calcium current, or whether a block of outward rectification allows calcium currents to increase the action potential duration.