LITHIUM TREATMENT STRONGLY INHIBITS CHOLINE TRANSPORT IN HUMAN ERYTHROCYTES.

The influx of [₁₄C] -choline and the efflux of ₂₂Na in human erythrocytes were measured in vitro using blood from patients treated with lithium, patients not on lithium and healthy individuals., The administration of lithium to patients significantly reduces the transport of choline; during the first 6 weeks of treatment the influx of choline is about half the normal rate, later it falls to around 10%., This inhibition of choline transport is not dependent on the presence of lithium in the incubation medium. 4 The active and passive efflux of sodium are apparently not affected by lithium treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]