Effect of chronic lithium treatment on twenty four hour variation in plasma and red blood cell lithium and sodium concentrations, drinking behavior, body weight, kidney weight, and corticosterone levels

This study tested the hypothesis that lithium alters the phase relationships of various 24-hour rhythms. Six point 24-hour patterns were measured throughout a 12 hour light/12 hour dark cycle from separate groups of individually housed adult male wistar rats maintained for six weeks on ad lib water and either 1) Normal lab chow, 2) Lab chow supplemented with 50mM/KG of lithium chloride, or 3) Lab chow supplemented with 50mM/KG of sodium …