Neuroprotective effect and cognitive outcome of chronic lithium on traumatic brain injury in mice

In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that lithium treatment can protect neurons against excitotoxic and ischemic damage Yet the possible beneficial effect of chronic low dose lithium on a model of traumatic brain injury (TBI) has not been intensively investigated In this study lithium (1 mmol/kg) was given daily intraperitonealy for 14 days before the onset of moderate controlled TBI and was continued until the mice were sacrificed The results showed that in brain injured animals chronic lithium treatment attenuated the loss of hemispheric tissue cerebral edema and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 beta The neuronal degeneration in hippocampal CA3 and dentate gyrus sub-regions was also attenuated in the chronic lithium-treated mice as shown by Fluoro-Jade B staining Moreover chronic lithium treatment enhanced spatial learning and memory performance of injured mice in the Morns water maze Our current study extended the protective role of lithium in the model of TBI and suggested that chronic lithium treatment might be a helpful therapeutic strategy for brain injury with multiple beneficial effects (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc All rights reserved