SB-236057 is a compound which is a potent and selective

inverse agonist In pharmacology, an inverse agonist is a drug that binds to the same receptor as an agonist but induces a pharmacological response opposite to that of the agonist. A neutral antagonist has no activity in the absence of an agonist or inverse agon ...

for the

serotonin Serotonin () or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is a monoamine neurotransmitter. Its biological function is complex and multifaceted, modulating mood, cognition, reward, learning, memory, and numerous physiological processes such as vomiting and vas ...

receptor Receptor may refer to: * Sensory receptor, in physiology, any structure which, on receiving environmental stimuli, produces an informative nerve impulse *Receptor (biochemistry), in biochemistry, a protein molecule that receives and responds to a ...

5-HT_1B, acting especially at 5-HT_1B autoreceptors on nerve terminals. It produces a rapid increase in

levels in the brain, and was originally researched as a potential

antidepressant Antidepressants are a class of medication used to treat major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, chronic pain conditions, and to help manage addictions. Common side-effects of antidepressants include dry mouth, weight gain, dizziness, hea ...

. However subsequent research found that SB-236,057 also acts as a potent teratogen, producing severe musculoskeletal birth defects when rodents were exposed to it during pregnancy. This has made it of little use for research into its original applications, yet has made it useful for studying embryonic development instead.

References

5-HT1B antagonists Teratogens Oxadiazoles Abandoned drugs {{nervous-system-drug-stub