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Discriminable effects of phencyclidine analogs evaluated by multiple drug (PCP versus OTHER) discrimination training.

D A Overton, C F Shen, G Y Ke, L P Gazdick

Psychopharmacology 1989 DOI: 10.1007/bf00439557 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Drug discrimination study in rats Peer reviewed
Population Rats
Interventions Phencyclidine (PCP) saline fentanyl phenobarbital amphetamine mescaline cyclazocine dextrorphan
Key points Rats rapidly learned to discriminate PCP from saline and from other drugs, and the percentage of PCP choices and ED50 doses in generalization tests did not differ significantly between rats trained with saline only and those trained with multiple other drugs. Numerous PCP analogs, including ketamine and dextrorphan, generalized to the PCP lever, in agreement with previous reports.

Abstract

This study tested structural analogs of phencyclidine (PCP) using drug discrimination procedures to determine which analogs produced discriminable effects similar to those of PCP. It also tested the utility of multiple-drug discrimination training (PCP versus other drugs or saline) as a method for increasing the specificity produced by training. All discrimination training took place in two-lever operant compartments using FR-10 reinforcement of presses on the correct lever. During training, rats were required to concurrently discriminate PCP from one or more other drug conditions. Rats in group 1 discriminated PCP (lever 1) versus saline (lever 2). Rats in group 2 discriminated PCP (lever 1) versus saline, fentanyl, phenobarbital, amphetamine, or mescaline (lever 2). In both groups 1 and 2, the required discriminations were rapidly learned. The percentage of PCP choices and the ED50 doses obtained during tests for generalization did not differ significantly in groups 1 and 2. Drugs to which responding on the PCP lever generalized included 1-[1-(2-thienyl)cyclohexyl]piperidine, N-ethyl-1-phenylcyclohexylamine, 1-phenylcyclohexylamine, ketamine, 1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl)morpholine, 1-[1-(2-thienyl)cyclohexyl]morpholine, N,N-diethyl-1-phenylcyclohexylamine, N-(iso-propyl)-1-phenylcyclohexylamine, N-methyl-1-phenylcyclohexylamine, N-(n-propyl)-1-phenylcyclohexylamine, Dextrorphan, (dl)-N-allyl-N-normetazocine, N-N-dimethyl-1-phenylcyclohexylamine, N-(n-butyl)-1-phenylcyclohexylamine, 1-[1-(2-thienyl)cyclohexyl]pyrrolidine, and N-(s-butyl)-1-phenylcyclohexylamine, in agreement with previous reports. Rats in group 3 discriminated PCP (lever 1) versus saline, cyclazocine, dextrorphan, phenobarbital, or mescaline (lever 2).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)