Effect of lithium and other alkali metals on brain chemistry and behavior. II. Intracranial self-stimulation behavior

Rats implanted with bipolar electrodes aimed at the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) were trained to self-stimulate. Six daily injections of 2 mEq/kg of the chloride salts of Li+, Rb+ or Cs+ were administered and the rate of intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) was recorded. Lithium caused a reversible decrease in ICSS rate, beginning on the second day and returning to pretreatment rate on the fourth day of injections. The decrease was more pronounced in animals with high baseline rate (over 500 responses/10 min) than in low responders. Rubidium enhanced ICSS rate whereas cesium had no effect. These results agree with other accumulating data showing the opposite effects of Li+ and Rb+, but their relevance to effective disorders is not clear.