Acylation of sigma receptors by Metaphit, an isothiocyanate derivative of phencyclidine.

Pretreatment of guinea pig brain membranes with 1-[1-(3-isothiocyanatophenyl)cyclohexyl]piperidine (Metaphit) caused irreversible and differential inhibition of ligand binding to sigma (sigma) receptors. The concentration of Metaphit required to produce 50% inhibition of binding of [3H]1,3-di-o-tolylguanidine ([3H]DTG), [3H](+)-3-(3-hydroxy-phenyl)-N-(1-propyl)piperidine ([3H](+)-3-PPP), and [3H](+)-N-allylnormetazocine ([3H](+)-SKF 10,047) to sigma receptors was 2, 10 and 50 microM, respectively. This compares to a value of 10 microM for inhibition of [3H]1-[1-(2-thienyl)cyclohexyl]piperidine [( 3H]TCP) binding to phencyclidine (PCP) receptors. While Metaphit was an irreversible, non-competitive inhibitor at PCP receptors, this compound produced irreversible, competitive inhibition at sigma receptors.