Amisulpride is a dopamine D2 and D3 receptor antagonist (Kis = 3 and 3.5 nM, respectively).1 It is also an antagonist of the serotonin (5-HT) receptor subtypes 5-HT2B, 5-HT7, and 5-HT7A (Kis = 13, 11.5, and 135.5 nM, respectively). It is selective for these receptors over a panel of 39 additional receptors, ion channels, and transporters (Kis = >1,000 nM for all). Amisulpride increases 7-OH-DPAT-induced decreases in dopamine and acetylcholine release in electrically stimulated rat striatal slices (EC50s = 2.2 and 1.2 nM, respectively).2 It increases the levels of dopamine and the dopamine metabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) in rat striatum and nucleus accumbens when administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 10 mg/kg. Amisulpride decreases immobility time in the forced swim test in rats, as well as increases stress-induced decreases in sucrose consumption in a rat model of depression induced by chronic mild stress.3
1.Abbas, A.I., Hedlund, P.B., Huang, X.P., et al.Amisulpride is a potent 5-HT7 antagonist: Relevance for antidepressant actions in vivoPsychopharmacology (Berl.)205(1)119-128(2009) 2.Schoemaker, H., Claustre, Y., Fage, D., et al.Neurochemical characteristics of amisulpride, an atypical dopamine D2/D3 receptor antagonist with both presynaptic and limbic selectivityJ. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.280(1)83-97(1997) 3.Papp, M., and Wieronska, J.Antidepressant-like activity of amisulpride in two animal models of depressionJ. Psychopharmacol.14(1)46-52(2000)