Effect of Lithium chloride on the Endocrine Pancreas of Domestic Pigeon (Columba livia)

Though there are numerous antis psychotic drugs, currently Lithium salts are therapeutically used for the treatment of many depressive illnesses in psychiatry. Lithium acts through the hypothalamic pathway, but it also produces side effects on the peripheral endocrine glands. Our knowledge is still limited regarding the latter aspect, so mechanism of lithium action through the extra hypothalamic pathway is, still in some way, unexplored and must be elucidated for a better insight. The present investigation deals with the action of lithium chloride (LiCl) on the endocrine pancreas, i.e. Islets of Langerhans regarding histological and certain biochemical parameters. Our study revealed that, high dosage of LiCl treatment initiates high mobilization of alpha cell granules,indicating a storage of the hormone glucagon. It also increased the blood glucose and slightly depleted the liver glycogen of the pigeons. The probable mechanism behind these results was briefly discussed.