Differences in the accumulation of lithium in human neuroblastoma and glioma cells in tissue culture

A human neuronal and a human glioma line were used to study lithium (Li) transport mechanisms and kinetics of influx. We demonstrated that, unlike the human erythrocyte or clonal neuroblastoma cell SY5Y, the cloned glioma cell line A₁B₁ had neither a ouabain or phloretin‐sensitive component of Li influx. Furthermore, glioma cells were shown to accumulate significantly more (4 fold) Li and at an apparently faster rate when compared to the neuroblastoma cell, SY5Y, over the same time period. Thus, these two clones may be better in vitro model system for the study of Li transport components native to the human central nervous system as compared to erythrocytes. This study also suggests that glial tissue may preferentially accumulate Li and in this way control the levels of extracellular Li surrounding some neurons.