Persistence of phencyclidine in fetal brain.

Phencyclidine residues were found in the brains of rat pups of mothers dosed with this drug during pregnancy. These levels were significant at times after dosing when maternal levels of phencyclidine in serum or brain were low or undetectable. The persistence of this compound in fetal serum was also not prolonged. Maternal ingestion of PCP for a relatively brief time may result in an extended exposure of the developing nervous system.