The two 3H-labeled agonists [3H]8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino) tetralin ([3H]8-OH-DPAT) and [3H]serotonin ([3H]5-HT) have been used to examine the effects of physico-chemical parameters and modulatory agents on the high affinity 5-HT receptor binding sites in various regions of the rat central nervous system. Sites labeled by [3H]8-OH-DPAT and [3H]5-HT were differentially sensitive to changes in incubation temperature and pH, such that the optimal interaction of [3H]8-OH-DPAT with specific sites in the striatum was at 30 degrees C and pH 7.4, whereas [3H]5-HT sites in the same region were most easily labeled at 2-23 degrees C and pH 8.2. Micromolar concentrations of Mn2+ enhanced [3H]5-HT binding but inhibited markedly [3H]8-OH-DPAT binding to striatal membranes. In contrast, both [3H]5-HT and [3H]8-OH-DPAT binding were increased by the cation in hippocampal membranes. Conversely, GTP reduced the binding of either ligand in the hippocampus but affected only [3H]5-HT binding in the striatum. Furthermore, N-ethylmaleimide inhibited equally [3H]5-HT and [3H]8-OH-DPAT binding to hippocampal membranes, but was markedly less potent against [3H]8-OH-DPAT binding to striatal membranes. These results led to the definition of assay conditions for studying separately [3H]8-OH-DPAT binding to "hippocampal-like" (HL) and "striatal-like" (SL) sites. [3H]8-OH-DPAT HL binding sites were particularly abundant in the hippocampus, septum and cerebral cortex, and exhibited pharmacological properties typical of the postsynaptic 5-HT1A subsites previously characterized with [3H]5-HT as the ligand. The regional distribution of [3H]8-OH-DPAT SL binding sites was strikingly different from that of HL sites, but similar to that of serotoninergic terminals identified by their capacity to take up [3H]5-HT. The selective lesion by 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine of serotoninergic projections induced a marked loss of [3H]8-OH-DPAT SL binding sites in the striatum and the cerebral cortex, indicating that these sites were located presynaptically. In contrast, [3H]5-HT binding sites remained unchanged in lesioned rats, which confirmed further their exclusive postsynaptic location in brain.