The effect of lithium and related metal ions on the urinary excretion of 2-oxoglutarate and citrate in the rat.

1 Administration of lithium ions to rats, either acutely by intraperitoneal injection or chronically in food, causes increased excretion of 2-oxoglutarate and citrate.2 Chronic administration in food of rubidium and caesium causes decreased excretion of 2-oxoglutarate and citrate.3 The effects described are not due to changes in urine volume, nor pH, nor are they simply related to the excretion of the injected ion.4 Acute administration of lithium caused an increased level of 2-oxoglutarate in kidney and reduced the ratio of glutamate to 2-oxoglutarate.5 Renal gluconeogenesis in slices was only slightly affected by either acute administration of lithium to the animals or by its presence in the incubation medium of renal slices.