Sistema FMUSP-HC: Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP) e Hospital das Clínicas da FMUSPDE-PAULA, Vanessa J.GATTAZ, Wagner F.FORLENZA, Orestes V.2017-04-072017-04-072016BIPOLAR DISORDERS, v.18, n.8, p.692-695, 20161398-5647https://observatorio.fm.usp.br/handle/OPI/18935Objectives: The putative neuroprotective effects of lithium treatment rely on the fact that it modulates several homeostatic mechanisms involved in the neurotrophic response, autophagy, oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial function. Lithium is a well-established therapeutic option for the acute and long-term management of bipolar disorder and major depression. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of subtherapeutic and therapeutic concentrations of chronic lithium treatment on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) synthesis and secretion. Methods: Primary cultures of cortical and hippocampal neurons were treated with different subtherapeutic (0.02 and 0.2 mM) and therapeutic (2 mM) concentrations of chronic lithium treatment in cortical and hippocampal cell culture. Results: Lithium treatment increased the intracellular protein expression of cortical neurons (10% at 0.02 mM) and hippocampal neurons (28% and 14% at 0.02 mM and 0.2 mM, respectively). Extracellular BDNF of cortical neurons increased 30% and 428% at 0.02 and 0.2 mM, respectively and in hippocampal neurons increased 44% at 0.02 mM. Conclusion: The present study indicates that chronic, low-dose lithium treatment -up-regulates BDNF production in primary neuronal cell culture.engrestrictedAccessBDNFchronic lithium treatmentcortical neuronshippocampal neuronslow-dose lithium treatmentprotein-levelsmessenger-rnaautophagydiseasedisordercellsarticleCopyright WILEY-BLACKWELL10.1111/bdi.12449Clinical NeurologyNeurosciencesPsychiatry1399-5618