The biochemical, endocrine, receptor binding, and behavioral effects of the putative dopamine autoreceptor agonist, U-86170F, were evaluated in various in vivo and in vitro models. U-86170F and apomorphine were shown to cause a significant reversal of the effects of gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) on dopamine accumulation in mouse striata. In contrast to apomorphine, U-86170F had a ceiling effect on the extent of the reversal of GBL effects (55%), whereas apomorphine had an 82% reversal. The effect on striatal homovanillic acid (HVA) levels was also monitored, and both compounds exerted a similar and significant reduction in striatal HVA. A comparison was made between the effects of intraperitoneal (i.p.) and oral administration of U-86170F in the alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (alpha-MPT)/prolactin model in rats. When administered by the i.p. route, U-86170F suppressed the effects of alpha-MPT on prolactin level increase, having an ED50 of about 0.03 mg/kg, and when administered by the oral route, its ED50 was approximately 0.1 mg/kg. U-86170F has been shown to be a potent dopamine autoreceptor agonist in the GBL, prolactin, and HVA models, with an effective i.p. dose of approximately 0.03 mg/kg. When evaluated for postsynaptic dopaminergic activity in the reserpinized mouse model, and compared to apomorphine, U-86170F was found to increase locomotor activity, but its maximum effect was only 65% of that attained with apomorphine. Higher doses were needed for postsynaptic effects. In receptor binding studies using cloned D2 receptor preparations, U-86170F was found to exhibit agonist binding properties similar to dopamine as demonstrated by their inhibition of 3H-raclopride binding.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)