D2 Receptor
Dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) provides negative-feedback control of dopamine neuron firing, dopamine synthesis, reuptake, and release, making it a core regulator of dopaminergic transmission[1]. Mechanistically, D2R signaling connects Gi activation, β-arrestin recruitment, receptor trafficking, and striatal A2A-D2R-AC5 complexes that integrate adenosine and dopamine signals in striatopallidal neurons[2][3][4]. In disease models, altered D2R signaling appears in schizophrenia-related assays, DYT1 dystonia, Huntington’s disease models, Parkinson’s disease research, and substance-use-disorder biology[1][2][5][6][7]. Compared with related isoforms, D2R-short, but not D2R-long, couples to the RhoA/ROCK/cofilin pathway and contributes to striatal vulnerability to expanded huntingtin[6]. This isoform distinction is experimentally important because D2R-short also supports dopamine- and TGFβ1-mediated growth inhibition in pituitary lactotropes[8]. For research applications, D2R agonists such as quinpirole, bromocriptine, ropinirole-related ligands, and radiolabeled MCL-536 help define receptor activity, D2high states, and disease-linked signaling responses[7][9][10]. D2R antagonists including haloperidol and clozapine show concentration-dependent dopamine antagonism, while haloperidol displays stronger β-arrestin-2 inhibition than Gi antagonism under specific assay conditions[2].
References:
- [1]. Chen R, et al. Dopamine D2 autoreceptor interactome: Targeting the receptor complex as a strategy for treatment of substance use disorder. Pharmacol Ther. 2020 Sep;213:107583. [Content Brief]
- [2]. Silva RR, et al. Evaluation of Functional Selectivity of Haloperidol, Clozapine, and LASSBio-579, an Experimental Compound With Antipsychotic-Like Actions in Rodents, at G Protein and Arrestin Signaling Downstream of the Dopamine D2 Receptor. Front Pharmacol. 2019 Jun 4;10:628. [Content Brief]
- [3]. Tirotta E, et al. Signaling by dopamine regulates D2 receptors trafficking at the membrane. Cell Cycle. 2008 Jul 15;7(14):2241-8. [Content Brief]
- [4]. Ferré S, et al. Essential Control of the Function of the Striatopallidal Neuron by Pre-coupled Complexes of Adenosine A2A -Dopamine D2 Receptor Heterotetramers and Adenylyl Cyclase. Front Pharmacol. 2018 Apr 9;9:243. [Content Brief]
- [5]. Scarduzio M, et al. Strength of cholinergic tone dictates the polarity of dopamine D2 receptor modulation of striatal cholinergic interneuron excitability in DYT1 dystonia. Exp Neurol. 2017 Sep;295:162-175. [Content Brief]
- [6]. Galan-Rodriguez B, et al. Coupling of D2R Short but not D2R Long receptor isoform to the Rho/ROCK signaling pathway renders striatal neurons vulnerable to mutant huntingtin. Eur J Neurosci. 2017 Jan;45(1):198-206. [Content Brief]
- [7]. Subburaju S, et al. The High Affinity Dopamine D2 Receptor Agonist MCL-536: A New Tool for Studying Dopaminergic Contribution to Neurological Disorders. ACS Chem Neurosci. 2021 Apr 21;12(8):1428-1437. [Content Brief]
- [8]. Sarkar DK, et al. Dopamine, dopamine D2 receptor short isoform, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1, and TGF-beta type II receptor interact to inhibit the growth of pituitary lactotropes. Endocrinology. 2005 Oct;146(10):4179-88. [Content Brief]
- [9]. Subburaju S, et al. New Dopamine D2 Receptor Agonist, [3H]MCL-536, for Detecting Dopamine D2high Receptors in Vivo. ACS Chem Neurosci. 2018 Jun 20;9(6):1283-1289. [Content Brief]
- [10]. Mickevicius NJ. Locally Linearized Approximation of RF Pulse Propagators for Faster Simulation of Magnetization Dynamics With Slice Profile Effects in 2D MR Fingerprinting. Magn Reson Med. 2026 Jun 8. doi: 10.1002/mrm.70462. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42260330. et al. Locally Linearized Approximation of RF Pulse Propagators for Faster Simulation of Magnetization Dynamics With Slice Profile Effects in 2D MR Fingerprinting. Magn Reson Med. 2026 Jun 8. [Content Brief]
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D2 Receptor Related Products (296)
Related Products (296)
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MLS1547
0 ImagesMLS1547 is a highly efficacious G protein-biased dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) agonist (Ki=1.2 μM). MLS1547 stimulates D2R G protein-mediated signaling (EC50=0.37 μM in a calcium mobilization assay). MLS1547 acts as an antagonist for dopamine (DA)-stimulated β-arrestin recruitment to the D2R (IC50=9.9 μM).
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UNC9995
0 ImagesUNC9995 is a β-arrestin2-biased agonist of dopamine receptor Drd2. UNC9995 inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation by enhancing β-arrestin2-NLRP3 interaction, thus prevents neuronal degeneration. Futhermore, UNC9995 activates the Drd2/β-arrestin2 signaling to prevent inflammation-related genes transcription-induced by JAK/STAT3. UNC9995 improves depressive behavior in mouse model, and improves astrocytes dysfunctions.
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Lurasidone Hydrochloride
0 ImagesSynonyms: SM-13496 HydrochlorideLurasidone (Hydrochloride) (SM-13496 (Hydrochloride)) is an antagonist of both dopamine D2 and 5-HT7 with IC50s of 1.68 and 0.495 nM, respectively. Lurasidone (Hydrochloride) (SM-13496 (Hydrochloride)) is also a partial agonist of 5-HT1A receptor with an IC50 of 6.75 nM.
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Itopride hydrochloride
0 ImagesSynonyms: HSR803Itopride (HSR803) hydrochloride is a potent dopamine-2 antagonist and an acetylcholine esterase (AChE) inhibitor. Itopride hydrochloride enhances gastric motility through both antidopaminergic and anti-acetylcholinesterasic actions, can be used as a gastrointestinal prokinetic agent. Itopride can be used for researching gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD).
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Paliperidone palmitate
0 ImagesSynonyms: 9-Hydroxyrisperidone palmitatePaliperidone palmitate is an orally effective competitive antagonist of dopamine D2 receptors and 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A (5-HT2A) receptors that can cross the blood-brain barrier. Paliperidone palmitate competitively inhibits the effects of dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine by binding to dopamine D2 receptors and 5-HT2A receptors, regulating the balance of the neurotransmitter system and thus exerting antipsychotic activity. Paliperidone palmitate is mainly used in the research field of schizophrenia.
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L-745870 hydrochloride
0 ImagesL-745870 hydrochloride is a potent, selective, brain-penetrant and orally active dopamine D4 receptor antagonist with a Ki of 0.43 nM. L-745870 hydrochloride shows weaker affinity for D2 (Ki of 960 nM) and D3 (Ki of 2300 nM) receptors, and exhibits moderate affinity for 5-HT2 receptors, sigma sites and α-adrenoceptors.
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Ziprasidone hydrochloride monohydrate
0 ImagesSynonyms: CP 88059 hydrochloride monohydrateZiprasidone (CP-88059) hydrochloride monohydrate is an orally active combined 5-HT and dopamine receptor antagonist. Ziprasidone hydrochloride monohydrate has affinities for Rat D2 (Ki=4.8 nM), 5-HT2A (Ki=0.42 nM) and 5-HT1A (Ki=3.4 nM).
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Xaliproden hydrochloride
0 ImagesSynonyms: SR57746A; SR57746 hydrochlorideXaliproden (SR57746) hydrochloride (SR57746A) is an orally active, highly selective 5-HT1A receptor agonist. Xaliproden hydrochloride activates pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein-coupled signaling cascades, as well as the PKC, ERK1/ERK2, Akt and p21 Ras/MEK-1 pathways. Xaliproden hydrochloride also downregulates the JNK/p66/c-Jun signaling pathway, induces phosphorylation of the shc adaptor protein, regulates extracellular dopamine and 5-HT levels, and induces [35S]GTPγS labeling in rat brain structures rich in 5-HT1A receptors. Xaliproden hydrochloride exerts neurotrophic, neuroprotective, renoprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, anti-fibrotic and analgesic effects. Xaliproden hydrochloride also enhances NGF-induced neurite outgrowth, promotes motor neuron survival, attenuates renal tubular injury and inhibits chemotherapy-induced mechanical allodynia, without activating or altering NGF-induced TrkA receptor activation. Xaliproden hydrochloride can be used in the research of motor neuron disease, diabetic nephropathy, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, acute tonic nociceptive pain, inflammatory pain, depression and anxiety.
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Haloperidol hydrochloride
0 ImagesHaloperidol hydrochloride is a potent dopamine D2 receptor antagonist, widely used as an antipsychotic agent. Haloperidol hydrochloride can be used in the study of schizophrenia, tics in Tourette syndrome, mania in bipolar disorder, delirium, agitation, acute psychosis, and hallucinations from alcohol withdrawal.
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(+)-PD 128907 hydrochloride
0 Images(+)-PD 128907 hydrochloride is a selective dopamine D2/D3 receptor agonist, with Kis of 1.7, 0.84 nM for human and rat D3 receptors, 179, 770 n M for human and rat D3 receptors, respectively.
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Tetrabenazine Racemate
0 ImagesSynonyms: Ro 1-9569 RacemateTetrabenazine (Ro 1-9569) Racemate is a brain-penetrant and orally active VMAT2-selective ligand with human VMAT2 Ki 100 nM. Tetrabenazine Racemate binds VMAT2 to block monoamine uptake into synaptic vesicles, potentiates cytoplasmic monoamine degradation. Tetrabenazine Racemate weakly blocks dopamine D2 receptors, and increases dopamine turnover via elevated cerebrospinal fluid homovanillic acid. Tetrabenazine Racemate can be used for the research of Huntington’s disease, tardive dyskinesia, and Tourette’s syndrome.
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Metoclopramide hydrochloride hydrate
0 ImagesMetoclopramide hydrochloride hydrate is a potent antagonist of 5-HT3 and dopamine D2 receptor, with IC50s of 308 nM and 483 nM, respectively. Metoclopramide hydrochloride hydrate can be used for the research of nausea and vomiting, gastro-oesophageal reflux, and gastroparesis.
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Ziprasidone hydrochloride
0 ImagesSynonyms: CP-88059 hydrochlorideZiprasidone (CP-88059) hydrochloride is an orally active combined 5-HT and dopamine receptor antagonist. Ziprasidone hydrochloride has affinities for Rat D2 (Ki=4.8 nM), 5-HT2A (Ki=0.42 nM) and 5-HT1A (Ki=3.4 nM).
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SKF 83959
0 ImagesSKF83959 is a potent and selective dopamine D1-like receptor partial agonist. SKF83959 Ki values for rat D1, D5, D2 and D3 receptors are 1.18, 7.56, 920 and 399 nM, respectively. SKF83959 is a potent allosteric modulator of sigma (σ)-1 receptor. SKF83959 belongs to benzazepine family and has improvements on cognitive dysfunction. SKF83959 can be used for the research of Alzheimer's disease and depression.
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Ocaperidone
0 ImagesSynonyms: R79598Ocaperidone is an effective antipsychotic agent, acting as a potent 5-HT2 and dopamine D2 antagonist, and a 5-HT1A agonist, with Kis of 0.14 nM, 0.46 nM, 0.75 nM, 1.6 nM and 5.4 nM for 5-HT2, a1-adrenergic receptor, dopamine D2, histamine H1 and a2-adrenergic receptor, respectively, and a pEC50 and pKi of 7.60 and 8.08 for h5-HT1A.
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Ecopipam
0 ImagesSynonyms: SCH 39166Ecopipam (SCH 39166) is a potent, selective and orally active antagonist of dopamine D1/D5 receptor, with Kis of 1.2 nM and 2.0 nM, respectively. Ecopipam shows more than 40-flod selectivity over D2, D4, 5-HT, and α2a receptor (Ki=0.98, 5.52, 0.08, and 0.73 μM, respectively). Ecopipam can be used for the research of schizophrenia and obesity.
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Zuclopenthixol
0 ImagesSynonyms: (Z)-ClopenthixolZuclopenthixol ((Z)-Clopenthixol) is a thioxanthene derivative which acts as a mixed dopamine D1/D2 receptor antagonist.
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Roxindole hydrochloride
0 ImagesSynonyms: EMD 38362Roxindole hydrochloride (EMD 38362), an indot-alkyl-pipenidine, is a potent agonist at dopamine autoreceptors, with an affinity for the D2-like subtype in the low nanomolar range. Roxindole can be used for the research of positive and negative schizophrenic symptoms. Roxindole is a 5-HT1A agonist and 5-HT uptake inhibitor with high affinity for 5-HT1A (IC50=0.9 nM). Antipsychotic and antidepressant activities.
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Fluphenazine decanoate
0 ImagesFluphenazine decanoate is a CNS-penetrant dopamine D2 receptor inhibitor, is a long-acting phenothiazine neuroleptic. Fluphenazine can be used for schizophrenia research.
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Tiapride hydrochloride
0 ImagesTiapride hydrochloride is a selective and orally active D2 and D3 dopamine receptors antagonist with IC50 values of 110-320 nM and 180 nM, respectively. Tiapride hydrochloride shows anti-dyskinetic activity and anxiolytic activity. Tiapride hydrochloride is a neuroleptic agent.
