SX-3228 is a selective ligand for the BZ1 receptor. Among the BZ-receptor subtypes, SX-3228 preferentially binds to the BZ1 receptor with IC50 of 17 nM. It has very weak affinity for the BZ2 receptor (spinal cord: IC50=127 nM), and virtually no affinity for the peripheral type BZ receptor (kidney: IC50>10000 nM). SX-3228 has been shown to bind to BZ receptors, but not to dopamine (D1, D2), serotonin (5-HT1, 5-HT2 and 5-HT3 subtypes), noradrenaline (α1, α2, β), GABA or acetylcholine (muscarinic) subtypes.

SX-3228(0.5-2.5 mg/kg) to rats during the light phase induces a significant reduction of rapid-eye-movement sleep (REMS) (P<0.05) during the third recording hour. SX-3228 (0.5-2.5 mg/kg) at the beginning of the dark period significantly and dose-dependently reduces waking (W) and increases slow wave sleep (SWS) during the 6-h recording period (P<0.05-0.01); however, significant changes during the last recording hour are restricted to the 2.5 mg/kg dose (P<0.01).