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Updated: Aug 12, 2026

Novel Apparatus and Method for Drug Reinforcement
Published on: August 20, 2010
The D3R partial agonist, BP 897, attenuates the discriminative stimulus effects of cocaine and D-amphetamine and is
P M Beardsley1, P Sokoloff, R L Balster
1Department of Pharmacology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond 23298-0613, USA. pbeardsl@hsc.vcu.edu
Abstract:
Growing attention has been directed towards the potential involvement of the dopamine D3 receptor (D3R) in modulating effects of psychomotor stimulants. BP 897 (N-[4-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl]butyl]-2-naphthylcarboxamide; aka BP 4.897 and DO897) is amongst the most selective partial agonists for the D3R receptor thus far reported. BP 897 was tested for its ability to support self-administration in rhesus monkeys (0.3-30 microg/kg) and for its ability to produce cocaine- and D-amphetamine-like discriminative stimulus effects in mice (0.01-17 mg/kg i.p.). BP 897 was not self-administered above vehicle and saline levels in any of the four monkeys tested, and produced less than 30% generalization from either the cocaine or D-amphetamine stimulus. When BP 897 was administered before administrations of cocaine or D-amphetamine, percent drug-lever selections were reduced. These results suggest that BP 897 has a profile of activity suitable for consideration as a potential treatment for cocaine dependency disorders.
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