The selective 5-HT7 receptor antagonist radioligand, [3H]-SB-269970, has been reported to radiolabel the human cloned 5-HT7(a) receptor and 5-HT7 receptors in guinea pig cortex (thomas et al, 2000). Saturation analysis of [3H]-SB-269970 binding to mouse forebrain, rat cortex, pig cortex, marmoset cortex and human thalamus membranes was consistent with labelling a homogenous population of binding sites in each tissue. K(D) values for [3H]-SB-269970 binding in these tissues ranged from 0.9 to 2.3 nM, being similar to those reported for the human cloned and guinea pig cortex 5-HT7 receptors (1.3 and 1.7 nM, respectively). Bmax values for [3H]-SB-269970 binding to the mouse, rat, pig, marmoset and human brain membranes were 20, 30, 31, 14 and 68 fmoles x mg x protein(-1), respectively. For each species the profile of inhibition of [3H]-SB-269970 binding, using a number of 5-HT7 receptor agonists and antagonists, correlated well with that reported for the human cloned 5-HT7(a) receptor (correlation coefficients were 0.95, 0.94, 0.92, 0.95, 0.97 versus the mouse, rat, pig, marmoset and human tissues, respectively). In conclusion, [3H]-SB-269970 has been shown to radiolabel 5-HT7 receptors in rodent, pig and primate brain and represents a valuable tool with which to further characterise the distribution and function of 5-HT7 receptors in native tissues and elucidate their potential role in disease states.