Effect of central administration of phencyclidine on plasma concentrations of luteinizing hormone

Abstract Previous research has demonstrated that excitatory amino acids acting at N- methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) receptors stimulate the release of luteinizing hormone (LH). Castration also elevates LH, an effect that may also involve NMDA receptors since the specific NMDA antagonist, dl -2-amino-5-phosphonopentanopic acid (AP5), antagonizes this action. Since PCP antagonizes a variety of actions of NMDA agonists, we hypothesized that it would diminish the ability of glutamate, homocysteic acid and castration to elevate LH. Our data support this hypothesis.