SCH 23390 may alter dopamine-mediated motor behaviour via striatal D-1 receptors.

SCH 23390 potently displaced the specific binding of 3H-piflutixol to D-1 sites in striatal membranes but haloperidol was only weakly effective. SCH 23390 weakly displaced specific 3H-spiperone binding to D-2 sites, but haloperidol was potent. SCH 23390 was more effective than haloperidol in inhibiting dopamine stimulated striatal adenylate cyclase activity. These results confirm the D-1 selectivity of SCH 23390. However, SCH 23390 inhibited apomorphine-induced stereotypy and climbing behaviour in rats with equal potency to haloperidol. Haloperidol dose-dependently increased striatal HVA and DOPAC concentrations without altering dopamine content. Low doses of SCH 23390 elevated striatal DOPAC concentrations but higher doses were without effect; striatal dopamine and HVA overall was unaffected by administration of SCH 23390. Haloperidol did not affect basal 3H-acetylcholine release from striatal slices but reversed the apomorphine-induced inhibition of 3H-acetylcholine release. SCH 23390 did not affect basal 3H-acetylcholine release nor did it reverse the apomorphine-induced inhibition of 3H-acetylcholine release. The ability of SCH 23390 to inhibit motor behaviour in the rat may be due to its action on D-1 receptors since the drug does not cause typical changes in parameters of striatal D-2 receptor function.