We studied the effects of acute clozapine and haloperidol treatments on 5-HT2C receptor binding characteristics and 5-HT2C receptor-mediated phosphoinositide hydrolysis in the rat choroid plexus. Scatchard analysis (with [3H]mesulergine) showed that acute clozapine treatment (10 and 25 mg/kg) decreased the density (Bmax) of 5-HT2C receptors by 20-25% with no marked change in the affinity (Kd). Quantitative autoradiography was in accordance with homogenate binding studies showing that acute clozapine treatment, unlike haloperidol (0.5 mg/kg), decreased the number of both agonist ([125I](+/-)-1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane, [125I]DOI) and antagonist ([3H]mesulergine) labeled 5-HT2C receptor binding sites. The decrease was more robust with the higher dose of clozapine. For comparison, both doses of clozapine, unlike haloperidol, decreased equally the density of 5-HT2A receptors in the frontal cortex by about 45%, whereas none of the treatments altered dopamine D2 receptor characteristics in the striatum. The Kd value of 5-HT2A receptors was significantly increased after the dose of 25 mg/kg of clozapine. These clozapine treatments failed to decrease the maximal 5-HT2C receptor-mediated phosphoinositide hydrolysis response. The higher dose of clozapine increased 5-HT-induced phosphoinositide hydrolysis response, but also decreased significantly the basal levels of phosphoinositide hydrolysis. Haloperidol did not significantly affect the 5-HT2C receptor-mediated phosphoinositide hydrolysis. To summarize, the present data show that a single injection of clozapine is able to reduce the density of 5-HT2C receptors but fails to cause functional desensitization of 5-HT2C receptors in the rat choroid plexus.