Involvement of the Sodium Pump and Endogenous Digitalis-like Compounds in Bipolar Disorder

This study deals with the possible molecular mechanisms that underlie the etiology of bipolar disorders (BD). Previous studies have implicated Na+, K+-ATPase and endogenous digitalis-like compounds (DLC) in the depressive state of this disease. The possibility, however, that they are also involved in the manic phase of the disease was never addressed. The results of this study may have significant implications for the treatment of BD by DLC derivatives.