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Updated: Oct 2, 2026

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Published on: February 4, 2014
Is clozapine selective for the dopamine D4 receptor?
M J Durcan1, G C Rigdon, M H Norman
1Wellcome Research Laboratories, Division of Pharmacology, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
Abstract:
Binding of 3H-spiperone and 3H-raclopride to membranes of cells stably-transfected with a human dopamine D2 receptor clone was investigated, as was that of 3H-spiperone to those stably-transfected with a human D4 receptor clone. 3H-spiperone and 3H-raclopride labeled the same number of sites in the D2 receptor preparation. The inhibition of binding by clozapine, spiperone, (-) eticlopride, haloperidol and the novel substituted benzamide 1192U90 was also investigated. Clozapine and 1192U90 showed greater inhibition of 3H-raclopride binding than 3H-spiperone binding to the D2 receptor. Comparison with inhibition of 3H-spiperone binding to the D4 receptor revealed that clozapine and 1192U90 displayed apparent selectivity (as assessed by Ki ratios) for the D4 receptor when compared with binding of 3H-spiperone, but not 3H-raclopride, to the D2 receptor.
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