Thirty-seven arylcyclohexylamines including phencyclidine (PCP) and derivatives, N[1-(2-thienyl)cyclohexyl]piperidine (TCP) and derivatives and N-[1-(2-benzo(b)thiophenyl)cyclohexyl]piperidine (BTCP) were assessed for their ability to inhibit [3H]PCP binding and [3H]dopamine ([3H]DA) synaptosomal uptake. Their pharmacological property (ataxia) was measured by means of the rotarod test. A very good correlation was observed between the inhibition of [3H]PCP binding and the [3H]DA uptake only for arylcyclohexylamines bearing an unmodified phenyl group. Conversely the comparison between the inhibition of [3H]PCP binding and the activity in the rotarod test shows a good correlation with arylcyclohexylamines having any aromatic group (phenyl, substituted phenyl and thienyl rings). This study outlined a new compound (BTCP) without ataxic effect, which is one of the more potent inhibitors of the [3H]DA uptake (IC50 = 8 nM) and which seems very specific since it has a low affinity for [3H]PCP receptors (IC50 = 6 microM). These data show that the aromatic group of the compounds leads to molecules that bind differently to the PCP receptor and to the DA uptake complex. They also suggest that the behavioral properties of arylcyclohexylamines revealed by the rotarod test occur essentially as a result of an interaction with the sites labeled with [3H]PCP and that TCP is more selective than PCP itself in this recognition.