The effects of chronic lithium chloride administration on some behavioural and immunological changes in the bilaterally olfactory bulbectomized rat

Assessed the effect of chronic (3 mmol/kg for 15 days) lithium chloride (Li) on open field activity and immune function in bilaterally olfactory bulbectomized and sham-operated male rats. Li did not reverse the hyperactivity of the bulbectomized rats (BRs) and did not affect growth rate significantly. Li reversed the deficit in the neutrophil phagocytic response and slightly reversed the deficit in lymphocyte proliferation induced by mitogens in BRs. The reduction in neutrophil catalase activity and the increase in superoxide dismutase activity were reversed by Li, whereas the reduction in the proportion of lymphocytes and the increase in the proportion of neutrophils were not reversed significantly. Li reversed the deficit in noradrenaline in the amygdaloid cortex and hypothalamus of the BRs and the reduction in the dopamine concentration in the amygdaloid cortex. No changes in the concentrations of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were detected.