Genetic effects on PCP-induced stimulation in recombinant inbred strains of mice.

The stimulation of motor activity by phencyclidine was found to differ significantly in BALB/c and C57Bl/6By inbred strains of mice. Phencyclidine-induced stimulation was compared for these strains, their reciprocal F1 hybrids, and their recombinant inbred offspring. There were significant differences in responsivity among the strains, suggesting a genetic influence on the PCP response; however, the strains did not segregate into two distinct groupings, suggesting that this genetic influence was not carried by a single gene. In addition, there was no relationship between the responsivity of these strains of mice to PCP and their previously-reported responses to amphetamine or scopolamine, which suggests that PCP-induced stimulation is not a simple cholinergic or amphetamine-like response.