In CHO cells expressing human 5-HT1A receptors, perospirone shows a high affinity (Ki: 0.72 nM) and exhibits partial agonistic efficacy[1]. Perospirone changes epigenetic profiles of neural genes. It can cause DNA methylation changes in cell cultures[2]. Perospirone is an inhibitor of Pgp which interferes directly and indirectly with the function of Pgp. The inhibition of Pgp by perospirone may cause clinically significant drug-drug interactions, especially in the tissue in which it accumulated[3].

Perospirone shows potent 5-HT2 and D2 receptor blocking activities in various animal models in vivo. Perospirone inhibits various dopaminergic behaviours (e.g. methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity and apomorphine-induced stereotypy or climbing behaviour) in rodents. It also inhibits the rat conditioned avoidance response. In behavioural tests, perospirone markedly inhibits serotonergic behaviour (e.g. tryptamine-induced clonic seizures, and p-chlorphenamine-induced hyperthermia) in rats. Perospirone has anxiolytic-like effects and mood stabilizing effects in various animal models. It inhibits motor coordination in a rota-rod test and potentiates the duration of hexobarbital-induced anaesthesia with ED50 values of 34 and 37 mg/kg (p.o.), respectively[1].