Cognitive Outcome and Neuroprotective Effect of Lithium on Subchronic Alcohol-induced Brain Damage in Mice

In vitro and vivo experiments have demonstrated that lithium treatment can protect neurons from acute brain injuries, neurodegenerative diseases, such as senile dementia, alcoholism, Alzheimer's disease, etc. However, the possible beneficial effect of chronic low dose lithium on a model of ethanol intoxication has not been intensively investigated. In this study, new drug form of lithium citrate with aluminum oxide was given daily, per os during 21 days after the onset of ethanol-induced neurodegeneration. The results showed that the neuronal degeneration in prefrontal cortex (F1-F3) was attenuated in the chronic lithium-treated mice. Moreover, chronic lithium treatment enhanced spatial learning and memory performance of injured mice in the passive avoidance task. Our current study extended the protective role of lithium in the model of chronic ethanol intoxication brain damage and suggested that chronic lithium treatment might be a helpful therapeutic strategy for brain damage with different etiology with multiple beneficial effects.