Phencyclidine-like behavioral effects in pigeons induced by systemic administration of the excitatory amino acid antagonist, 2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate.

A selective N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist, DL-2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate, was found to produce PCP-like catalepsy, discriminative stimulus effects, and stereotyped operant responding in pigeons when administered intramuscularly. These results support the hypothesis that the behavioral effects of PCP-like drugs result at least in part from reduced neurotransmission at excitatory amino acid synapses utilizing N-methyl-D-aspartate preferring receptors.