Effects of phencyclidine (PCP) and (+)MK-801 on sensorimotor gating in CD-1 mice.

1. Male CD-1 mice were tested for prepulse inhibition (PPI) following administration of PCP and the PCP site ligand, (+)MK-801, as well as the dopamine (DA) agonist (-)-apomorphine and DA releaser d-amphetamine. Similar to reports in rats, PCP (0.36-36.0 mumol/kg), (+)MK-801 (0.03-3.0 mumol/kg), (-)-apomorphine (3.3 and 10.0 mumol/kg) and d-amphetamine (3.0 and 8.0 mumol/kg) significantly reduced PPI when administered prior to testing. 2. Because PCP also binds to sigma receptors, the authors tested the sigma ligand (+)-3-PPP at (118 mumol/kg) which marginally increased the PPI. 3. Haloperidol (1.1 mumol/kg) pretreatment attenuated the reduction in PPI following (-)-apomorphine (10.0 mumol/kg), however no effects of haloperidol or clozapine pretreatment on (+)MK-801 disruption of PPI were observed. 4. Because of the pharmacological similarities between mouse data and previously published rat data, it is concluded that the mouse is a viable alternative to the rat for testing PPI.