Lithium administration antagonizes cholinergic behavioral effects in rodents

Physostigmine, a centrally acting cholinesterase inhibitor, antagonizes methylphenidate-induced stereotyped gnawing behavior in mice and rats. This effect is significantly attenuated when lithium chloride is concurrently administered, indicating that lithium chloride may antagonize central cholinergic activity. This observation may have theoretical implications for an adrenergic-cholinergic balance hypothesis of affective disorders.