Phencyclidine and related compounds evoked [3H]dopamine release from rat mesencephalic cell cultures by a mechanism independent of the phencyclidine receptor, sigma binding site, or dopamine uptake site.

At concentrations greater than or equal to 100 microM, phencyclidine (PCP), N-(1-(2-thienyl)-cyclohexyl)piperidine (TCP), and MK-801 induced [3H]dopamine release from dissociated cell cultures of rat mesencephalon. This release was Ca2+ independent and tetrodotoxin insensitive. Tetrodotoxin (2 microM) itself had no effect on spontaneous release of [3H]dopamine. [3H]Dopamine release was induced by 1,3-di(2-tolyl)guanidine, a sigma ligand, and by 4-aminopyridine (1-3 mM), a K+ channel blocker. No stereoselectivity was observed for [3H]dopamine release evoked by the dioxadrol enantiomers, dexoxadrol, and levoxadrol, or by enantiomers of N-allylnormetazocine (SKF 10,047). The selective dopamine uptake inhibitor 1-(2-[bis(4-fluorophenyl)methoxy]ethyl)-4-(3-phenylpropyl)piperazine dihydrochloride (GBR 12909) did not affect spontaneous or TCP-evoked [3H]dopamine release. Together, these data suggest that the dopamine-releasing effects of PCP-like compounds on the mesencephalic cells were not mediated by actions at the PCP receptor or sigma binding site, Ca2+, or Na+ channels, or at the high affinity dopamine uptake site. It remains conceivable that blocking actions of PCP-like compounds at voltage-regulated K+ channels may at least partly explain the response. These results are discussed in comparison with findings in intact brain.