The effect of chlorpromazine and Li2CO3 on the superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities of rat brain, liver and erythrocytes.

The effect of the antipsychotic agents chlorpromazine (CPZ) and Li2CO3 on superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx, EC 1.11.1.9) activities of brain, liver and erythrocyte of rats was investigated. The short-term treatment (7 days) either with CPZ (10 mg/kg body weight) or with Li2CO3 (2 mEq Li/kg body weight) did not affect enzymatic activities. In contrast, the long-term administration of CPZ (1 month) decreased the SOD activity in brain and erythrocytes while Li2CO3 had no effect. GPx activity and lipid peroxidation of brain and liver homogenates were not affected by either acute or chronic administration of these agents.