The sigma-selective ligand NE-100 attenuates the effect of phencyclidine in a rat diving model.

1. Phencyclidine (PCP) reduces the latency of rats diving into a water-filled pool from a hidden platform, without stereotyped behavior. 2. The sigma-selective ligand, NE-100 (N,N-dipropyl-2-[4-methoxy-3-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl]-ethyl-amine monohydrochloride), attenuates the effects of PCP in this procedure. 3. The serotonin2 (5-HT2) antagonist, ritanserin, and the sigma receptor ligands, 1-(cyclopropylmethyl)-4-[2'(4"-fluorophenyl)-2'-oxoethyl]- piperidine HBr (Dup734), 4-[2'-(4"-cyanophenyl)-2'-oxoethyl]-1- (cyclopropylmethyl)piperidine (XJ448), alpha-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-(5-fluoro-2-pyrimidinyl)-1-piperazine butanol (BMY14802) and rimcazole similarly attenuate the effects of PCP. 4. The dopamine D2/sigma ligands, haloperidol and cis-N-(1-benzyl-2-methyl-pyrrolidin-3-yl)-2-methoxy-5-chloro-4- methylaminobenzamide (YM-09151-2) completely reverse the effects of PCP, whereas the same dose ranges of these drugs produce sedation. 5. The dopamine D2-selective antagonist, sulpiride, has no apparent effect on the PCP latency to the rat dive. 6. Thus, PCP-induced diving behavior was improved by sigma ligands and the 5-HT2 antagonist. This model of negative symptoms in an experimental animal will facilitate experiments on drug treatments for schizophrenia.