A novel phencyclidine analog interacts selectively with mu opioid receptors.

A new potent analgesic drug, 1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl)-4-phenyl-4-piperidinol (PCP-4-Ph-4-OH), derived from phencyclidine was tested for its interactions with different types of opioid receptors. The antinociceptive effect of PCP-4-Ph-4-OH in the mouse writhing test (ED50 = 0.3 mg/kg) is reversed by low doses of naloxone (pA2 = 6.98). The potency of PCP-4-Ph-OH in the inhibition of the electrically induced contractions of the guinea-pig ileum (IC50 = 17 nM) is 8-fold higher than that in the mouse vas deferens preparation (IC50 = 130 nM). The concentration of naloxone required to double the IC50 (Ke) of PCP-4-Ph-4-OH is 1.5 to 1.9 nM in both preparations. In opioid radioreceptor assays, PCP-4-Ph-4-OH displays 60- to-300 fold higher affinity for the [3H] dihydromorphine (mu) and D-[3H]Ala2-MePhe-Gly-ol5-enkephalin (mu) binding sites than for D-[3H]Ala2-D-Leu5-enkephalin (delta) sites in rat brain and [3H]bremazocine (kappa) sites in guinea-pig cerebellar membrane preparations. These results suggest that PCP-4-Ph-4-OH interacts with high affinity and selectivity with mu opioid receptors.