The involvement of sigma receptors in the choice reaction performance deficits induced by phencyclidine

The present study investigated the effects of phencyclidine (PCP) on choice reaction in a 3-choice serial reaction time task for studying attentional function. PCP (3.2 mg/kg) significantly delayed choice reaction time and reduced choice accuracy. A novel sigma receptor antagonist N,N-dipropyl-2-[4-methoxy-3-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl]-ethylamine monohydrochloride (NE-100) at 3.2 mg/kg, and 1-(cyclopropylmethyl)-4-[2'-4"-fluorophenyl)-2'-oxoethyl]piperidin e HBr (DuP734) at 1.0-3.2 mg/kg, but not 4-[2'-(4"-cyanophenyl)-2'-oxoethyl]-1-(cyclopropylmethyl)pip eridine (XJ448), antagonized both the delayed choice reaction time and the decreased choice accuracy elicited by PCP administration. The antagonism induced by NE-100 was blocked by the sigma receptor agonist (+)-N-allylnormetazocine HCl [(+)-SKF10,047]. These findings indicated that PCP (3.2 mg/kg) significantly induced attention deficit in a 3-choice serial reaction time task, and that this process may be mediated by sigma receptors.