Antidepressant action of lithium in behavioral despair test

The effects of long term (30 days) lithium treatment of various doses on behavioral despair test and on serotonin metabolism in the hypothalamus, midbrain and striatum of rats were examined. Lithium at doses of 0.5, 2 and 5 mEq/kg significantly decreased the duration of immobility. In other words, lithium behaved as an antidepressant drug. Serotonin turnover increased only in the hypothalamus in response to 0.5 and 2 mEq/kg doses of lithium.