Behavioral and neurochemical effects of 3-OH-pip-BTCP, an active metabolite of BTCP in rats.

The effects of N-[1-(2-benzo[b]thiophenyl)cyclohexyl]piperidin-3-ol (3-OH-pip-BTCP), an active metabolite of N-[1-(2-benzo[b]thiophenyl)cyclohexyl]piperidine (BTCP) was examined on locomotor activity and dopamine (DA) levels in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) in rats. To study the stimulant action of 3-OH-pip-BTCP, rats were placed into activity chambers and injected with the compound (0-40 mg/kg, i.p.). To measure the effects of 3-OH-pip-BTCP on DA levels, rats were implanted with microdialysis probes into the NAcc and the same doses as used in the locomotor activity experiment were administered i.p. 3-OH-pip-BTCP dose-dependently increased locomotor activity and DA levels in the NAcc which lasted 4-5 h at 20 and 40 mg/kg. The results suggest that 3-OH-pip-BTCP exerts long lasting stimulating effects on locomotion and extracellular DA levels in the NAcc, suggesting that 3-OH-pip-BTCP contributes importantly to the pharmacological effects of its parent compound, BTCP.