The effects of phencyclidine on the uptake of 3H-catecholamines by rat striatal and hypothalamic synaptosomes

In tests of the effects of the psychotomimetic agent, phencyclidine, 1-(1-phenylcyclohexl) peperidine (PCP), on the uptake of ³H-catecholamines by synaptosome-rich homogenates of rat striatum and hypothalamus, PCP was shown to be a potent, competitive inhibitor of both ³H-dopamine uptake in the striatal region and ³H-norepinephrine uptake in the hypothalamus. The implication of these findings are discussed in terms of a drug-induced imbalance of the catecholaminergic-cholinergic systems in those regions of the brain where activity has been correlated with emotional expression.