Phencyclidine treatment in mice: effects on phencyclidine binding sites and glutamate uptake in cerebral cortex preparations.
Journal of neural transmission. General section January 1, 1993 P Saransaari, S M Lillrank, S S Oja
Chronic treatment with phencyclidine (PCP), a psychotomimetic drug, alters glutamatergic neurotransmission in mice. After PCP administration via implanted minipumps (1 mg per mouse per day for 3 days), the binding capacity of TCP to cortical membranes increased, indicating more binding sites became available, while binding affinity remained unchanged. The actions of glutamate, its receptor agonists, and glycine were potentiated. Glutamate uptake showed changes in transport kinetics: the high-affinity component's transport constant increased and its maximal velocity increased, while the low-affinity component's maximal velocity decreased. Inhibition by structural analogues was also potentiated, suggesting modification of the glutamate transporter. These findings indicate that chronic PCP treatment, used as a psychosis model, markedly affects glutamatergic parameters.