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Evidence for an endogenous peptide ligand for the phencyclidine receptor.

R Quirion, D A DiMaggio, E D French, Patricia C. Contreras, J Shiloach, C B Pert, H Everist, A Pert, Thomas L. O'donohue

Peptides 1984 DOI: 10.1016/0196-9781(84)90124-4 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Basic science or biochemical study Peer reviewed
Population Porcine brain tissue and rat brain membranes
Key points The authors report that a small peptide of approximately 3000 daltons from porcine brain selectively competes with [3H]-PCP for binding to rat brain membranes, does not interact with benzodiazepine, neurotensin, or mu, delta, or kappa opioid receptors, and shows PCP-like activity in two bioassays. They conclude it is likely to be an endogenous ligand for the PCP receptor.

Abstract

Porcine brain contained an active factor that competed with [3H]-phencyclidine (PCP) for binding to rat brain membranes. On reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography, the active material eluted between 38-42% acetonitrile. Gel filtration chromatography of the factor predicted a molecular weight of approximately 3000 daltons. The endogenous substance appeared to be selective for PCP receptors as it did not interact with either benzodiazepine, neurotensin, nor with mu, delta, or kappa opioid receptors. The active material showed a heterogenous distribution in brain, with highest concentrations found in hippocampus and cortex. It is likely to be a small peptide since various proteases eliminated or markedly reduced the potency of the compound in a [3H]-PCP binding assay. The material also possessed PCP-like activity in two bioassays. Like PCP, it induced contralateral rotational behavior after unilateral intranigral injection and depressed spontaneous cell activity after iontophoretic micropressure application in hippocampus and cerebral cortex. Thus, this small peptide is likely to be an endogenous ligand for the PCP receptor.