Phencyclidine-dependent chemiluminescence of rat alveolar macrophages

Phencyclidine (PCP) is a drug of abuse which is commonly taken by inhalation or snorting. By this pathway, it comes in direct contact with the alveolar macrophages (AM) which phagocytize inhaled particles. The activated AM produce reactive oxidative products and release photons with resulting chemiluminescence (CL) that can be quantified in the presence of luminol. The effect of PCP on this functional ability has been studied. PCP-treated rat-AM in vitro causes a two-to threefold increase in CL emission, after challenging with zymosan particles. This CL augmentation by PCP appears not to be associated with increased phagocytosis. Several metabolic inhibitors have been studied, and only rotenone has been found to inhibit CL production to a greater degree with PCP than in its absence. It may be assumed that the enhanced CL produced in the presence of PCP is due to activation of the drug by some reactive oxygen state or states that are affected by rotenone.