RU-24,969 is a serotonin receptor modulator of the tetrahydropyridinylindole group related to 5-MeO-DMT which is used in scientific research.
It is a selective agonist of the serotonin 5-HT<sub>1A</sub> and 5-HT<sub>1B</sub> receptors, with 5-fold preference for the latter receptor over the former. In studies, its affinities (K<sub>i</sub>) were 2nM for the serotonin 5-HT<sub>1</sub> receptor, 5nM for the serotonin 5-HT<sub>1A</sub> receptor, 4nM for the serotonin 5-HT<sub>1B</sub> receptor, 780 to 1,000nM for the serotonin 5-HT<sub>2</sub> receptor, and 400nM for the serotonin 5-HT<sub>2C</sub> receptor. It also has affinity for the serotonin 5-HT<sub>5A</sub>, 5-HT<sub>5B</sub>, and 5-HT<sub>7</sub> receptors.
The drug produces MDMA-like locomotor hyperactivity in animals and this is thought to be mediated by activation of both serotonin 5-HT<sub>1A</sub> and 5-HT<sub>1B</sub> receptors. As with other serotonin 5-HT<sub>1B</sub> receptor agonists such as CP-94,253, RU-24,969 has also been found to increase the reinforcing properties of cocaine in animals, suggesting a role for serotonin 5-HT<sub>1B</sub> receptors in cocaine addiction as well. The drug produces antiaggressive effects in rodents.
RU-24,969 was first described in the scientific literature by 1980.