Effects of sigma ligands on the ability of rimcazole to inhibit PCP hsp70 induction.

Phencyclidine (PCP) can result in schizophrenia-like behavior. It binds at the PCP site on the NMDA-receptor calcium channel and at the sigma receptor. PCP also induces the heat shock gene hsp7O in retrosplenial cortex neurons. An antipsychotic drug, rimcazole, inhibits PCP hsp7O induction. Rimcazole binds predominantly to sigma-2 sites. It is hypothesized that sigma ligands without antipsychotic properties and with some sigma-2 affinity should partially reverse the effects of rimcazole. (+)-3-PPP, (+)-cyclazocine, and (+)-pentazocine bind predominantly to sigma-I sites. (+)-3-PPP is also a modest sigma-2 ligand. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (200-260 g) were injected intraperitoneally (IP) with (+)-3-PPP (50 mg/kg), rimcazole (60 mg/kg) and, after 5 min, with PCP (40 mg/kg). Brains were sectioned (100 mu m) and presence of the hsp7O gene protein product, HSP7O, was determined immunocytochemically. (+)-3-PPP significantly (0 <0.05) diminished the ability of rimcazole to inhibit PCP hsp7O induction in the retrosplenial cortex. (+)-Cyclazocine (15mg/kg, IP) and (+)-pentazocine (8Omg/kg, IP) given in an analogous manner did not diminish the ability of rimcazole to inhibit PCP hsp7O induction.