Electron microscopic observations of renal lesions caused by lithium carbonate: Hypertrophy of endothelial and epithelial cells

The effects of lithium carbonate on the ultrastructure of the rat kidney were studied. Fifteen male rats of the Sprague-Dawley strain were given aqueous lithium carbonate by mouth, 74mg/kg/day. These rats were killed on days 5, 10 and 15. Six control rats were given NaCl solution equivalent in volume and tonicity to the lithium dosage. Blood analyses were performed on both experimental and control animals. Test animals with a serum level of 0.5mEq/L showed marked hypertrophy of endothelial and epithelial cells in the glomeruli. The capillary lumens and urinary spaces were almost completely occluded by these enlarged cells. Among the prominent features of these cells were the hypertrophy of the Golgi apparatus and an increase in the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Similar proliferation of the Golgi apparatus was also observed in the epithelial cells of the proximal, distal and collecting tubules.