Activation of forebrain dopamine systems by phencyclidine and footshock stress: evidence for distinct mechanisms

Phencyclidine combined with footshock stress produced a greater increase in the homovanillic acid content of prefrontal cortex than either phencyclidine or footshock alone. Phencyclidine decreased both substance P and substance K in the ventral tegmental area. The results suggest that phencyclidine and footshock activate forebrain dopaminergic systems in part by separate mechanisms.