Lithium blocks Ca-45(2+) uptake into platelets in bipolar affective disorder and controls

The basal uptake of radiolabelled Ca-45(2+) into platelets and the effect of 1 mM lithium on uptake was measured in manic (n = 13) and depressed (n = 15) patients with bipolar disorder and in controls (n = 13), Lithium was significantly associated with inhibition of uptake of Ca-45(2+) into platelets in all three groups, There were no significant intergroup differences in either basal levels of calcium uptake or the effects of lithium on calcium uptake (analysis of variance).