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Title: Chronic lithium downregulates cyclooxygenase-2 activity and prostaglandin E(2) concentration in rat brain. Author: Bosetti F, Rintala J, Seemann R, Rosenberger TA, Contreras MA, Rapoport SI, Chang MC. Journal: Mol Psychiatry; 2002; 7(8):845-50. PubMed ID: 12232777. Abstract: Rats treated with lithium chloride for 6 weeks have been reported to demonstrate reduced turnover of arachidonic acid (AA) in brain phospholipids, and decreases in mRNA and protein levels, and enzyme activity, of AA-selective cytosolic phospholipase A(2)(cPLA(2)). We now report that chronic lithium administration to rats significantly reduced the brain protein level and enzyme activity of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), without affecting COX-2 mRNA. Lithium also reduced the brain concentration of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), a bioactive product of AA formed via the COX reaction. COX-1 and the Ca(2+)-independent iPLA(2) (type VI) were unaffected by lithium. These and prior results indicate that lithium targets a part of the AA cascade that involves cPLA(2) and COX-2. This effect may contribute to lithium's therapeutic action in bipolar disorder.[Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]