Effect of Lithium Taurate on Behavioral-Exploratory Activity and Anxiety in Rats in a Chronic Experiment

Background: lithium salts play a fundamental role in the treatment of depression with various etiopathogenetic causes. Lithium carbonate, — the most commonly used anxiolytic, — has numerous toxic effects, making it important to search for a less toxic anxiolytic. Given the numerous positive effects of the non-proteinogenic amino acid taurine, its lithium salt may be one of the newest and most promising anxiolytics. However, the specific activity of lithium taurate has not been studied during chronic administration. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of lithium taurate on behavioral activity and anxiety in laboratory rats. Materials and Methods: two hundred non-inbred rats of both sexes were administered an aqueous solution of lithium taurate diluted in 2 ml of water intragastrically via an atraumatic tube once daily for 6 months at doses of 196 mg/kg (minimum), 273 mg/kg (average), and 350 mg/kg (maximum). The placebo group, which received an equivalent volume of water for injection intragastrically, and intact animals of both sexes served as controls. Behavioral activity and anxiety were assessed using the open field test. Results and Conclusions: lithium taurate in all dosages eliminates gender differences in the effects of stress from prolonged intragastric tube insertion.