glycogen and Affective-Disorders--Psychotic

Renal biopsies have been examined in patients either currently (50 patients) or previously (5 patients) on maintenance lithium therapy for severe affective disorders. In patients currently taking lithium, a distinctive lesion of the distal convoluted tubules and collecting ducts was identified. This lesion consisted of vacuolation and swelling of the cytoplasm with accumulations of PAS positive material; this material was confirmed to be particulate glycogen by light and ultrastructural techniques. This 'lithium-associated' lesion was not present in patients who had discontinued lithium therapy. Prospective studies showed that the accumulation of glycogen occurs in distal tubules and collecting ducts within days of commencing lithium treatment. The relationship of this distinctive lesion to the patchy focal cortical interstitial fibrosis seen in these biopsies remains to be elucidated.

Topics: Adult; Affective Disorders, Psychotic; Aged; Female; Glycogen; Humans; Kidney Diseases; Kidney Tubules; Kidney Tubules, Distal; Lithium; Male; Middle Aged

In schizophrenic depressive patients the cytochemical investigation of blood leukocytes revealed the decreased glycogen content as compared with healthy subjects. The activity of some oxidation-reduction and carbohydrate-energy metabolism enzymes was also changed. These cytochemical indices were close to normal levels in patients with circular depression pattern at the pronounced remission stage. These indices can be used in laboratory tests assessing the degree of psychic deterioration.

Topics: Adult; Affective Disorders, Psychotic; Enzymes; Fructose-Bisphosphate Aldolase; Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase; Glycogen; Humans; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; Leukocytes; Middle Aged; Monoamine Oxidase; Phosphorylases; Schizophrenia; Succinate Dehydrogenase