Herein, we examined the direct coupling of human dopamine D1 receptors to G
s proteins using an antibody capture assay together with a detection technique employing scintillation proximity assay beads. Using a specific antibody, dopamine (DA) and the selective dopamine D1 receptor agonists, 6-chloro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine (SKF81297) and 3-allyl-6-chloro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine (SKF82958), behaved as high-efficacy agonists (
100%) in stimulating guanosine-5′-
O-(3-[
35S]thio)-triphosphate ([
35S]GTPγS) binding to G
s in L-cells, whereas 2,3,4,5,-tetrahydro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-3-benzazepine (SKF38393) displayed partial agonist properties (70%). The action of dopamine was specifically mediated by human dopamine D1 receptors inasmuch as the selective human dopamine D1 receptor antagonist, (
R)-(+)-8-chloro-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-3-methyl-5-phenyl-1H-benzazepine-7-ol (SCH23390), blocked dopamine-induced [
35S]GTPγS binding to G
s with a p
KB (9.29) close to its p
Ki (9.33). The antipsychotic agents, clozapine and haloperidol, displayed no intrinsic activity when tested alone and inhibited dopamine-stimulated G
s activation with p
KB's of 6.7 and 7.3, respectively, values close to their p
Ki values at these sites. In conclusion, the use of an anti-G
s protein immunoprecipitation assay coupled to scintillation proximity assays allows direct evaluation of the functional activity of dopamine D1 receptors ligands at the G protein level. Employing this novel technique, the typical and atypical antipsychotics, clozapine and haloperidol, respectively, both exhibited antagonist properties at dopamine D1 receptors.