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Purpose: To study the effects of lithium on the fetal rat's kidney and determine volumetric changes by an unbiased stereological method.
Materials and Methods: Thirty female and ten male Sprague dawley rats were chosen. Following cohabitation and observation of spermatozoa in the vaginal smear, the pregnant rats were divided into three groups (n=10). Treatment and control groups received 50 mg/kg lithium carbonate in distilled water and the same volume of normal saline by intraperitoneal injection on 7th, 10th, 13th, 16th and 19th days of gestation, respectively. On 20th day of gestation, under deep anesthesia, the right kidneys of the rats were dissected and fixed in modified Lillie's solution. Then tissue processing was performed, and 5-micrometer sections were cut and stained with H & E. To determine the volume parameters of the kidneys, a stereological technique based on Cavalier's principle was used.
Results: The study showed that lithium could cause a significant decrease in the glomerular volume (52%), total volume (44%) and volume of the cortex (42%) and medulla (49%) of the kidney.
Conclusion: Administration of lithium during pregnancy has effects on the volume of different parts of fetal kidneys, especially on glomeruli. Since normal volumetric parameters are indicators of renal development, it seems that lithium causes some defects in the normal development of the kidney.

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Purpose: The subdivision of claustrum into parts in some species exists in literature. Those are mainly based on a pattern of its connections with various cortical areas, method of staining, immunoreactivity of its neurons etc. The aim of this study was the division of the human claustrum into different parts, for first time, based on morphology, density, arrangement of claustral neurons as well as shape of the structure on coronal sections studied with Kluver-Barrera.
Materials and Methods: Ten human brains (5 males, 5 females), who died of non-neurological causes and had no history of long term neurological illness were selected. The samples after fixation in formaldehyde and embedding in paraffin were coronally cut into 25-micrometer thick serial sections. Every 20th section was stained with Kluver-Barrera, with a random posi40n for the first section. The human claustrum was divided using anatomical landmark and morphological findings of neurons. Neuron density and total number of neuron and volume of each part were measured using stereo logical methods.
Results: We have distinguished in the human claustrum three parts cap, dorsal and ventral in dorsa-ventral direction. The circular insular and rhinal sulci are upper and lower borders of dorsal part. Cap is the smallest and ventral part largest part. Neuron density decreases from cap towards ventral part. We have also found three parts anterior, central (middle) and posterior in antero-posterior direction. The central part is alongside of globus palliduas nucleus, whereas anterior and posterior are referred to parts of claustrum that lie in front and behind this nucleus, respectively. The central and posterior parts are the largest and smallest parts, respectively. Neuron density decreases from anterior towards posterior part, antero-posterior of human claustrum was about 28.06±5.25 mm.
Conclusion: This study demonstrated that human claustrum consists of three anatomical parts in both dorso-ventral and antero-posterior directions. Each part has its specific connections, development, function and neuron density and morphology.

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Purpose: Lithium is an alkali metal, which has many industrial and medical uses. These include cluster and migraine headaches, mood disorder, schizophrenia and it also is important in treatment of bipolar disorder. In this study, effects of Lithium on volumetric parameters of cerebrum were investigated by using stereological methods.
Materials and Methods: Twenty mature Wistar male rats (Age: 60-70 days old) were selected and divided in two groups randomly (n=10). Administration and control groups received 0.1 percent Lithium carbonate solution and distilled water respectively as drinking water during a period of 12 weeks continuously. Then rats were anaesthetized and their cerebrum excised and fixed in modified lille's solution then tissue blocking in 4% agar was done. Blocks were sectioned to 1-millimeter thick sections by using a tissue slicer. Then a grid of standard points and objects volume of gray matter, white matter and total cerebrum were estimated by using Cavalieri prenciple. Data analysed by nonparametric statistical test of Mann Whitney. Differences between groups less than 0.05 was considered as significant.
Results: Results showed that there were no significant differences in terms of total volume, gray matter and white matter volume of cerbrum between control and administration groups after a period of 12 weeks (p>0.05).
Conclusion: It was concluded that Lithium carbonate 0.1% might not affect volumetric parameters and macroscopic structure of cerebrum in rats.