Phencyclidine-like catalepsy induced by the excitatory amino acid antagonist DL-2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate.

This study presents experimental evidence for the mediation of a behavioral effect of phencyclidine-like drugs by inhibition of neurotransmission at excitatory synapses utilizing N-methyl-aspartate (NMA) receptors by showing that DL-2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate, a selective NMA antagonist, produces phencyclidine-like catalepsy in pigeons. This finding suggests the possibility that other behavioral actions of phencyclidine-like substances may be mediated in a similar fashion.