Applications of Li-7 NMR in biomedicine

The applications of Li-7 NMR spectroscopy and imaging in biology and experi mental medicine have been progressing steadily. The interest derives primar ily from the clinical use of Li salts to treat mania and manic-depressive i llness. One area of investigation is ionic transport across the cellular me mbrane and compartmentation, so as to elucidate the mechanism(s) of therape utic action and toxicity in clinical practice. The second is the developmen t of a noninvasive, in vivo analytical tool to measure brain Li concentrati ons in humans, both as an adjunct to treatment and as a mechanistic probe. Here we review progress to date in this area. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc . All rights reserved.