Serotonergic involvement in phencyclidine-induced behaviors.
Toshitaka Nabeshima, K Yamaguchi, M Hiramatsu, M Amano, H Furukawa, T Kameyama
Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior September 1984 DOI: 10.1016/s0091-3057(84)80102-1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Animal experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Rats |
| Interventions | Phencyclidine (PCP) reserpine p-chlorophenylalanine p-chloroamphetamine (PCA) cyproheptadine tryptophan pargyline imipramine |
| Dose | 5-10 mg/kg (PCP); 5 mg/kg, 7.5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg (PCP specific doses) |
| Topics | Serotonin |
| Key findings | PCP-induced stereotyped behaviors in rats appear to depend on increased serotonergic activity: serotonin depletors and a serotonin antagonist attenuated the behaviors, while serotonin precursors, releasers, an MAO inhibitor, and a reuptake inhibitor potentiated them. PCP also increased serotonin content in the thalamus/hypothalamus and altered 5-HIAA levels, suggesting a serotonin-releasing and/or uptake-inhibiting action. |
Abstract
Administration of 5-10 mg/kg of phencyclidine (PCP) caused stereotyped behaviors including sniffing, backpedalling, head weaving and turning in rats. The PCP-induced stereotyped behaviors (backpedalling, head weaving and turning) were attenuated by serotonin (5-HT) depleters [reserpine, p-chlorophenylalanine, p-chloroamphetamine (PCA)] and 5-HT receptor antagonist (cyproheptadine). PCP-induced head weaving and turning were potentiated by 5-HT precursor (tryptophan) and 5-HT releaser (PCA). PCP-induced head weaving were potentiated also by monoamine oxidase inhibitor (pargyline) and 5-HT reuptake inhibitor (imipramine). PCP 5-10 mg/kg significantly increased the content of 5-HT in the thalamus/hypothalamus at 30 and 60 min after the injection, except PCP 5 mg/kg at 60 min. PCP 7.5 and 10 mg/kg increased the rate of increment of 5-HT by pargyline in the thalamus/hypothalamus at 30 and 60 min after the injection, respectively. PCP 10 mg/kg significantly increased the contents of 5-HIAA in the striatum and thalamus/hypothalamus at 30 min, but decreased that of 5-HIAA in all discrete brain areas except the stratium at 60 min after the injection. PCP also significantly prevented the depletion of 5-HT by PCA in all discrete brain areas except the stratium at 60 min after the injection. From these results, PCP-induced stereotyped behaviors are related to an increased serotonergic neuronal activity due to 5-HT releasing action and/or inhibitory action of 5-HT uptake-by this drug.