title: Phencyclidine (PCP) reduces the intensity of caffeine-induced convulsions in rats.
abstract: The effects of phencyclidine (PCP) on the threshold and intensity of caffeine-induced convulsions in rats were examined. There was a dose-dependent effect of PCP on convulsion intensity with significant reduction in intensity at 4.0 and 8.0 mg/kg PCP. At 16.0 mg/kg PCP, convulsant intensity was reduced in 50% of subjects but potentiated to the point of death in the remaining 50%. PCP had no significant effect on threshold for caffeine-induced convulsions. These results suggest that PCP antagonizes caffeine-induced convulsions and further suggests that the mechanisms involved in onset of caffeine-induced convulsions and the decrease of convulsion intensity are pharmacologically dissociable.
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio 43022.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Turgeon
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Leccese
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002110:Caffeine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D010622:Phencyclidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D002110:Caffeine; D010622:Phencyclidine