Neurotransmitter-Stimulated Inositol Phosphate Accumulation in Hippocampal Slices

1. 1. The agonist-induced accumulation of [³H]IP in the presence of lithium represents a sensitive method for studying a number of receptor-mediated events in brain.2. 2. In the presence of lithium, receptor-mediated [³H]IP₃ formation in brain is difficult to demonstrate. It is possible that lithium itself may prevent the formation if IP₃ and, thus, the presence of lithium in the incubation may account for such a discrepancy.3. 3. It is likely that the effects of lithium on the PI cascade are more complex then previously envisioned.4. 4. The recent identification of the inositol polyphosphates, myo-inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate and myo-inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate, indicates that other inositol phosphates need to be considered in future studies of receptor-mediated PI metabolism.