MOOD STABILIZERS HAVE DIFFERENTIAL-EFFECTS ON ENDOGENOUS ADP-RIBOSYLATION IN C6 GLIOMA-CELLS

Bipolar disorder is associated with increased levels and function of t he G-protein, G(s) alpha which may be normalized by treatment with moo d stabilizing medications (i.e. lithium salts and the anticonvulsants, valproic acid and carbamazepine). In C6 glioma cells, endogenous ADP ribosylation was markedly increased by lithium chloride (+83%, P < 0.0 05), decreased by valproic acid (-48%, P = 0.07) whereas carbamazepine had no effect. Since ADP ribosylation of G(s) alpha has been shown to increase turnover of this protein these results suggest a possible me chanism of action for lithium chloride. These results also suggest tha t lithium salts and the anticonvulsant mood stabilizers may have disti nct mechanisms of action.