Serotonergic involvement in phencyclidine-induced behaviors

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 striatum 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. Prom 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.