Electroencephalographic, behavioral and receptor binding correlates of phencyclinoids in the rat

The pharmacology and structure-activity relationship of phencyclidine (PCP)-like drugs (phencyclinoids) were studied using electroencephalographic (EEG), behavioral and receptor binding techniques. The effects of PCP, 1-phenylcyclohexylamine HCl, N-methyl-1-phenylcyclohexylamine HCl, N-ethyl-1-phenylcyclohexylamine HCl, N-(s-butyl)-1-phenylcyclohexylamine HCl, 1-(1-phenylcyclo-hexyl)-pyrrolidine HCl, 1-[1-(2-thienyl)cyclohexyl] piperidine HCl, 1-[1-(2-thienyl)cyclohexyl)-pyrrolidine HCl, ketamine and (±)SKF 10047 were evaluated on the direct EEG and EEG spectra after acute i.v. injections (0.1-17.8 mg/kg). Similarities and differences were noted in the EEG dose-response curves. At lower doses of PCP and its analogs, low-amplitude theta waves predominated; however, at higher doses, high-amplitude, lower-frequency waves predominated. Qualitatively, the N-piperidine derivatives were similar to PCP and differed primarily in potency. The benzomorphan (±)SKF 10047 produced only theta activity at doses up to 12.8 mg/kg. These EEG effects occurred in conjunction with overt behaviors including locomotion, stereotypy and ataxia, concurrently assessed via observer-based rating scales. A strong correlation (r=0.98) was obtained between the EEG and behavioral effects and the IC₅₀ values from [³H]PCP displacement experiments using crude rat brain homogenates.