5-HT1B receptors: a novel target for lithium.
Possible involvement in mood disorders
by
Massot O, Rousselle JC, Fillion MP,
Januel D, Plantefol M, Fillion G
Unite de Pharmacologie Neuro-Immuno-Endocrinienne,
Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
Neuropsychopharmacology 1999 Oct; 21(4):530-41

ABSTRACT

Lithium ion is widely used to treat depressive patients, often as an initial helper for antidepressant drugs or as a mood stabilizer; however, the toxicity of the drug raises serious problems, because the toxic doses of lithium are quite close to the therapeutic ones. Thus, precise characterization of the target(s) involved in the therapeutic activity of lithium is of importance. The present work, carried out at molecular, cellular, and in vivo levels, demonstrates that 5-HT1B receptor constitutes a molecular target for lithium. Several reasons suggest that this interaction is more likely related to the therapeutic properties of lithium than to its undesirable effects. First, the observed biochemical and functional interaction occurs at concentrations that precisely correspond to effective therapeutic doses of lithium. Second, 5-HT1B receptors are well characterized as controlling the activity of the serotonergic system, which is known to be involved in affective disorders and the mechanism of action of various antidepressants. These findings represent progress in our knowledge of the mechanism of action of lithium that may facilitate clinical use of the ion and also open new directions in the research of antidepressant therapies.

Mania
Lithium
Serotonin
Bipolar disorders
5-HT1b and reward
Lithium prophylaxis
Lithium augmenation
Lithium versus divalproex
Lithium versus carbamazepine

Refs
HOME
HedWeb
Cocaine.org
Future Opioids
BLTC Research
Superhappiness?
Paradise-Engineering
The Abolitionist Project
The Hedonistic Imperative
MDMA: Utopian Pharmacology

The Good Drug Guide
The Responsible Parent's Guide
To Healthy Mood Boosters For All The Family