Inter-organ Relation between Salivary Gland and Kidney in Lithium Excretion. I. Effects of Continuous Stimulation of Salivation on Salivary, Renal and Systemic Clearances of Lithium in Dog*

Abstract

The effects of continuous stimulation of salivation on salivary, renal and systemic clearances of lithium were investigated following bolus intravenous administration of lithium chloride (0.145 meq/kg) in three beagle dogs. The salivation was frequently stimulated with citric acid solution, then parotid saliva and mandibular-sublingual saliva were collected separately by means of permanent fistulae. Although the continuous stimulation of salivation markedly increased the salivary clearance of lithium, no significant change was observed in plasma concentrations or systemic clearance of lithium. This was because the decrement in the renal clearance of lithium canceled out the effect of increased salivary clearance. It is suggested that the reabsorption of lithium in the renal tubule was enhanced under the continuous stimulation of salivation, and this seemed to be caused by loss of water or sodium through the salivary glands. © 1988, The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan. All rights reserved.