BEHAVIORAL-EFFECTS OF PHENCYCLIDINE AND ITS MAJOR METABOLITE, (TRANS)4-PHENYL-4-(1-PIPERIDINYL)CYCLOHEXANOL, IN MICE

To elucidate the biological activity of natural metabolites of phencyc lidine (PCP), we examined the behavioral effects of a major metabolite , the trans isomer of 4-phenyl-4-(1-piperidinyl)cyclohexanol [(trans)P PC], in mice. (Trans)PPC caused dose-related increase in locomotor act ivity and rearing in mice when injected intraperitoneally at the doses ranging from 10 to 30 mg/kg. (Trans)PPC at any dose tested failed to produce swaying and falling. On the other hand, PCP at the doses rangi ng from 1 to 10 mg/kg caused swaying and falling as well as hyperlocom otion in a dose-related manner. These indicate that unlike PCP, hyperl ocomotion and rearing may be the predominant behavioral responses to ( trans)PPC in the 10-30 mg/kg dose range. Furthermore, it is feasible t o surmise that not only PCP but also its major metabolite (trans)PPC i s involved in psychotic reactions produced by PCP.