Effect of dietary lithium on cortical spreading depression

The influence of lithium administration on cortical spreading depression (SD) was investigated in rats whelped by dams fed a diet containing lithium (1.5 g/kg) during the gestation or the lactation periods. Velocity of SD propagation was measured when the rats became adults and was similar to that of rats raised on a normal diet. A third group of adult rats received lithium during the three weeks preceding SD recordings and presented a significant reduction in SD velocity as compared to control rats. These data suggest that in adult rats a brief treatment with lithium impairs SD propagation, whereas much earlier treatment does not.