Brexpiprazole (OPC-34712) is a partial agonist of human 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) 5-HT1A and dopamine D2 receptors.

D2L:0.3 nM(Ki), 5-HT1A:0.12 nM(Ki), α2C-adrenoceptor:0.59 nM(Ki), Noradrenaline α1B (human):0.17 nM(Ki), 5-HT2A receptor:0.47 nM(Ki)

2.5 ng/ml of NGF(nerve growth factor) is used to study the potentiating effects of brexpiprazole on neurite outgrowth. Twenty-four hours after plating, the medium is replaced with DMEM medium containing 0.5% FBS and 1% penicillin-streptomycin with NGF (2.5 ng/ml), with or without brexpiprazole (0.001, 0.01, 0.1 or 1.0 μM). Four days after incubation with NGF (2.5 ng/ml) with or without drugs, morphometric analysis is performed on digitized images of live cells taken under phase-contrast illumination, with an inverted microscope linked to a camera. (Only for Reference)