Cardiac arrhythmias induced by the intracerebroventricular administration of some lithium salts in anesthetized rats

Abstract

The microinjection of lithium carbonate and lithium citrate in the lateral cerebral ventricles of anesthetized rats induced cardiac arrhythmias. They were prevented by the intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of atropine or (±)propranolol. Lithium sulfate was not arrhythmogenic. Lithium carbonate and lithium sulfate afforded protection against cardiac arrhythmias elicited by the ICV administration of sodium glutamate. Sodium citrate, sodium carbonate, and sodium sulfate were all arrhythmogenic.