Effect of phencyclidine on plasma corticosterone in mice

Phencyclidine produced a dose dependent increase in plasma corticosterone when administered to ovariectomized C57BL/6J mice. This effect was blocked by pretreatment of the animals with dexamethasone. The plasma corticosterone concentration after PCP remained elevated after concentration of PCP observed in plasma nd brain tissue began to decline. These data demonstrate a stress-like hormonal effect of PCP in mice which appears to be a result of an action of PCP at the pituitary, hypothalamus, or higher.