Clozapine (7.5-30.0 mu mol kg(-1) s.c.) produced a decrease in core te
mperature in the rat. The temperature decrease caused by clozapine (7.
5 mu mol kg(-1) s.c.) was fully antagonized by the selective dopamine
D-1 receptor antagonist SCH 23390 (0.3 mu mol kg(-1)) s.c.), and a par
tial antagonism was obtained by the selective dopamine D-2 receptor an
tagonist raclopride (1.6 mu mol kg(-1) s.c.). On the other hand, the h
ypothermia was not antagonized by alpha-adrenoceptor antagonists (idaz
oxan and prazosin), 5-HT receptor antagonists ((-)-pindolol and ritans
erin) or by the muscarinic M, receptor antagonist scopolamine. The hyp
erthermia produced by the 5-HT1C/2 receptor agonist DOI(0.75 mu mol kg
(-1)) was blocked by clozapine (3.0 mu mol kg(-1) s.c.). Clozapine did
not antagonize hypothermia produced by selective dopamine D-1 and D-2
receptor agonists (A 68930 and quinpirole), the alpha(2)-adrenoceptor
agonist clonidine, the 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT (8-hydroxy-2
-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin) or the muscarinic M(1) receptor agonist o
xotremorine. The present results suggest that clozapine may be a parti
al agonist at brain dopamine D-1 receptors.