Characterization of temperature-sensitive [3H]serotonin (5-HT) binding sites (1 and 4 nM Kd sites) revealed complex inhibition by neuroleptics and serotonin antagonists. There was no simple correlation with affinities for S1 and S2 receptors. In vivo pretreatment (48 h before) with mianserin did not alter Bmax or Kd for the 1 nM Kd [3H]5-HT site, although [3H]ketanserin (S2) densities were decreased by 50%. This suggested that possible S2 components of [3H]5-HT binding must be negligeable, even though ketanserin competed with high affinity (IC50 = 3 nM) for a portion of the 1 nM Kd [3H]5-HT site. Low concentrations of mianserin inhibited the 1 nM Kd [3H]5-HT site in a non-competitive manner, as shown by a decrease in Bmax with no change in Kd after in vitro incubation. The complex inhibition data may therefore represent indirect interactions through another site.