Lithium-induced diuretic effect of antidiuretic hormone in rats

The effect of a low dose of lithium (1 meq/kg per day) on renal function and its response to antidiuretic hormone (ADH) was studied in unanesthetized rats. This dose of lithium itself had no influence on renal water and electrolyte excretion, but lithium-treated rats responded paradoxically to exogenous ADH by increases in urinary volume, excretion of total solutes, sodium, potassium, and phosphate. Administration of ADH in the presence of lithium led to a lowering of urine osmolality, but free water clearance was not significantly reduced. Adenylate cyclase from the renal medulla of animals treated with ADH and lithium had a lower response to synthetic vasopressin in vitro than in animals treated with lithium alone. The results suggest that exogenous ADHis diuretic in the presence of a low concentration of lithilm. The predominant mechanism for this diuresis is probably inhibition of electrolyte and isomotic water reabbsorption in various nephron segments, including those proximal to the collecting ducts. ADH also markedly increased urinary excretion of lithium and appears to promote accumulation of lithium in the renal medulla.