Evoked release of norepinephrine and serotonin from brain slices: inhibitoon by lithium.

Slices of mammalian brain accumulate H(3)-norepinephrine and H(3)-serotonin when incubated in a physiologic medium containing these tritiated monoamines. When these tissues are subjected to mild electrical stimulation of short duration, which is associated with depolarization of nerve membranes, a striking increase in the rate of efflux of the exogenous labeled monoamines occurs. Stimulation-induced release of both labeled monoamines is diminished by the presence of lithium ions in the perfusing medium; related monovalent cations had no such effect. Evoked release from slices of brain from animals treated intraperitoneally with lithium chloride for 3 days was also reduced.