Abstract
A method for demonstrating the distribution of lithium in whole brain sections of the rat by using radiographic dielectric track registration techniques is described. The method essentially involves freeze-drying coronal sections, overlaying them with dielectric films sensitive to alpha particles, bombarding the tissue and film with thermal neutrons and chemically etching the lithium (6Li(n,α)3H) tracks in the films. The tracks in the film are superimposed on the tissue and the distribution of the lithium is delineated by the alpha particle tracks. The method is extremely sensitive and suitable for any tissue where lithium-induced tracks are significantly greater than the background and should be useful in elucidating some of the biologic properties of lithium.