Lithium deficiency reduces thymus weight and alters differential blood count in rats

Effects of lithium (Li) deficiency and/or immobilization stress on the thymus weight and differential blood count of rats were studied. The thymus weight of the rats fed a low Li diet were lighter than those of rats fed a Li supplemented diet, whether the rats were exposed to stress or not. Of the rats not exposed to stress, those in the low Li diet group showed a significant decrease in the ratios of neutrophils and T helper lymphocytes. However, there was an increase in the total number of lymphocytes in the low Li dietary group. It was shown that Li deficiency altered the responses to stress in rats.