Fight Aging! Newsletter, October 18th 2021

In this study, we therefore analysed the influence of lithium treatment on lifespan and parameters of health during ageing in mice.

To determine the concentration of lithium suitable to be administered in a longitudinal ageing study, we first tested the effects of lithium chloride (LiCl) in doses from 0.01 to 2.79 g LiCl per kg chow. C57Bl/6J mice fed with 1.05-2.79 g/kg LiCL in the diet showed lithium plasma levels between 0.4 and 0.8 mM/l. While plasma levels to 0.4 and 0.8 mM/l are well tolerated by human patients, at doses above 1.44 g LiCl/kg, we observed an obvious dose-dependent polydipsia combined with a distinct polyuria, pointing towards a significant degree of kidney toxicity.

We therefore carried out life-long lithium treatment in the range from 0.02 to 1.05 g/kg diet. Administration to both sexes at doses of 0.02 and 0.05 g/kg starting at 3 months or 18 months of age did not affect lifespan. In an additional group, treatment of females with 0.1 g/kg starting at 19 months of age also had no significant effect. Treatment of male and female mice from an age of 3 months with 0.02 and 0.05 g/kg LiCl, and then switching late in life at 22 months to 0.5 and 1.05 g/kg, respectively, had no effect on male survival and reduced maximum lifespan of females (survival of last 20% of animals to die).

We assessed the effects of lithium on other age-related phenotypes of the mice. Decreased fat mass despite unaffected food consumption indicates an effect of l...

Source: Fight Aging! - October 17, 2021 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Newsletters Source Type: blogs