Antipsychotic drugs and their clinically impotent congeners were examined as inhibitors of dopamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase (EC 4.6.1.1) in cell-free membrane preparations of the caudate-putamen of rat brain. Of 12 neuroleptic drugs with reported antipsychotic efficacy, all inhibit stimulation of adenylate cyclase by 40 muM dopamine at micromolar concentrations. Among 14 other structurally related drugs that are not clinically effective as antipsychotic agents, 12 were almost ineffective while two drugs were moderate inhibitors of dopamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase.