Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Teratogenic Effect of Lithium Carbonate in the Foetal Mouse

Abstract

LITHIUM is effective in the treatment of manic and other psychotic disorders1–3. The recommended human dose is 90–1,800 mg daily, with serum lithium concentrations of 0.6–1.6 milliequivalents/litre4. Lithium salts have been found to be teratogenic in amphibians5,6 and chicks7 but not in mice8,10 or rats9. Johansen and Ulrich10 have, however, found that lithium is able to cross the placental barrier in rats, and that its concentration in the serum of foetuses was half of the serum concentration in their mothers who received lithium in the diet. I now report the teratogenic effect of lithium carbonate in mice11.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Gershon, S., and Yuwiler, A., J. Neuropsychiat., 1, 229 (1960).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Baastrup, P. C., and Schou, M., Arch. Gen. Psychiat., 16, 162 (1967).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Schou, M., and Baastrup, P. C., J. Amer. Med. Assoc., 201, 691 (1967).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Noyes, jun., R., Dis. Nerv. Syst., 30, 318 (1969).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Cotronei, G., Arch. Ital. Biol., 71, 83 (1922).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Kawakami, I., Acta Path. Jap., 5, 475 (1955).

    Google Scholar 

  7. DeBernardi, F., Cigada, M., Maci, R., and Ranzi, S., Experientia, 25, 211 (1969).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Bass, A. D., Yntema, C. L., Hammond, W. S., and Frazer, M. L., J. Pharm. Exp. Therap., 101, 362 (1951).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Trautner, E. M., Pennycuik, P. R., Morris, R. J., Gershon, S., and Shankly, K. H., Austral. J. Exp. Biol., 36, 305 (1958).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Johansen, K. T., and Ulrich, K., Acta Psychiat. Scand., 207 (Supp.), 91 (1969).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Szabo, K. T., Proc. Third Int. Conf. Congenital Malformations, Hague, Netherlands (in the press).

  12. Szabo, K. T., Free, S. M., Birkhead, H. A., and Gay, P. E., Proc. 19th Ann. Meet. Amer. Assoc. Lab. Anim. Sci., Las Vegas, Nevada (1968).

  13. Callas, G., and Walker, B. E., Anat. Rec., 145, 61 (1963).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Trasler, D. G., in Teratology Principles and Techniques (edit. by Wilson, J. G., and Warkany, J.), 40 (University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1965).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

SZABO, K. Teratogenic Effect of Lithium Carbonate in the Foetal Mouse. Nature 225, 73–75 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1038/225073a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/225073a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing