Lithium Retention in Ascites Tumour Mice

Abstract

MICE inoculated with an Ehrlich Lettré ascites tumour have a life-span of 2–3 weeks. In the course of ionic balance studies on such mice we noticed that these animals, after being given lithium, tended to retain more than normal controls. Daily lithium injections (1 ml. of 150 m.equiv./l. lithium chloride subcutaneously) were started on either the fifth or tenth day after inoculation, and were continued for a further four days. Food and water were given ad libitum. On the fifth day the mice were lightly etherized, samples of the ascitic fluid were with-drawn and blood was obtained by cardiac puncture. Plasma, red blood cells, ascites supernatant fluid and tumour cells were analysed for sodium, potassium and lithium using a Beckman flame spectrophotometer. All mice were examined for the presence of macroscopic secondary deposits.