Effect of phenycyclidine on dopamine release in the rat prefrontal cortex; an in vivo microdialysis study

Abstract The effect of phencyclidine (PCP) on the extracellular dopamine levels in the rat prefrontal cortex was investigated using an in vivo brain dialysis technique. PCP increased extracellular dopamine levels in the prefrontal cortex of freely-moving rats after the systemic (7.5 mg/kg i.p.) or the local injection (100 μM and 500 μM). The local injection of MK-801, which is a more selective and potent NMDA receptor antagonist than PCP also increased the extracellular dopamine levels (from 10 μM to 100 μM). These results suggest that part of the effect of PCP is attributable to its antagonistic effect on the NMDA receptor.