THE EFFECT OF LITHIUM AND RELATED METAL IONS ON THE URINARY EXCRETION OF 2‐OXOGLUTARATE AND CITRATE IN THE RAT

Abstract

1 Administration of lithium ions to rats, either acutely by intraperitoneal injection or chronically in food, causes increased excretion of 2-oxoglutarate and citrate. 2 Chronic administration in food of rubidium and caesium causes decreased excretion of 2-oxoglutarate and citrate. 3 The effects described are not due to changes in urine volume, nor pH, nor are they simply related to the excretion of the injected ion. 4 Acute administration of lithium caused an increased level of 2-oxoglutarate in kidney and reduced the ratio of glutamate to 2-oxoglutarate. 5 Renal gluconeogenesis in slices was only slightly affected by either acute administration of lithium to the animals or by its presence in the incubation medium of renal slices.