1-(1-
Naphthyl)piperazine (1-NP) is a ligand for serotonin (5-
hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) receptors. It acts as an antagonist for 5-HT
at 5-
HT
1 and 5-HT
2 in rat cortical membranes with IC
50 values of 6 and 1 nM, respectively.
1 1-NP also blocks contraction in the rat fundus induced by either 5-HT
or tryptamine (IC
50 = 1 nM for both agonists).
1 1-
NP mimics the 5-HT
1 agonist 1-(
m-
trifluoromethylphenyl)piperazine (TFMPP, Item No.
11205) in decreasing 5-
HT
receptor turnover and increasing serum corticosterone, suggesting that, in the absence of 5-HT, 1-NP may act as an agonist of the 5-HT
1 receptor.
2 However, in squirrel monkeys, 1-NP acts as a non-
selective 5-HT receptor antagonist in altering operant behavior.
2 1-NP also binds to the human 5-HT
6 receptor with an affinity comparable to that of 5-HT
(K
is = 120 and 100 nM, respectively).
3