Although it has been proposed that exposure to
lithium up-regulates
brain-derived neurotrophic factor (
BDNF), B-cell leukaemia/
lymphoma 2
protein (Bcl-2) and
cyclic AMP-response element-binding protein (CREB), and these molecules are involved in the neuroplastic actions and clinical efficacy of the
drug, the several lines of evidence suggest that the
lithium-induced up-regulation of these molecules has not been consistently confirmed. Few studies have examined the effects of
lithium exposure on the regulation of these molecules in the dentate gyrus (DG) and area CA1 in the hippocampus. We examined the effects of subchronic
lithium treatment on the levels of
BDNF, Bcl-2 and phosphorylated CREB in the DG and area CA1. We administered LiCl intraperitoneally (1 mEq/kg per day) to adult rats for 14 days, killed animals in 24 hr after the last administration of the
drug, and determined the tissue levels of
BDNF, Bcl-2 and pCREB in the DG and area CA1. Subchronic
lithium treatment for 14 days did not significantly alter the levels of
BDNF, Bcl-2 or phosphorylated CREB in the DG and area CA1 in the hippocampus. This study indicates that the
lithium-induced up-regulation of these molecules may be various depending on the duration of
lithium exposure and particular brain regions exposed to the
drug.