Amantadine modulates phencyclidine binding site sensitivity in rat brain

Summary Amantadine, an antiviral drug with various CNS effects, significantly increases the affinity of the ³H] PCP receptor in rat brain. Rimantadine, an analogue of amantadine devoided of CNS effects, does not have any affect on the ³H] PCP receptor. These results may suggest that some of the CNS actions of amantadine are related to an interaction with the PCP receptor.Acknowledgments. We thank Dr W. K. Schmidt (E.I. Dupont, Newark, Delaware) for gifts of amantadine and rimantadine. Dr R. Quirion is a fellow of the Medical Research Council of Canada.