The effect of the 5-HT1A agonist SR 57746A (1-[2-(naphth-2-yl) ethyl]-4-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl))-1,2,5,6 tetrahydropyridine hydrochloride), was evaluated in a variety of psychopharmacological tests in rodents. In the approach-avoidance conflict test in rats, orally administered SR 57746A significantly increased punished responding at doses as low as 3 mg/kg, while unpunished responding was only reduced at 30 mg/kg. SR 57746A was active for at least 4 hours in this test. SR 57746A significantly antagonised the lithium-induced taste aversion in rats at doses of 3 and 10 mg/kg po. In staircase test in mice, SR 57746A reduced rearing at doses which did not reduce the number of steps climbed. In the two-compartment exploratory model in mice, SR 57746A increased the latency to the first entry into the dark compartment (at 2 to 8 mg/kg po), and reduced the time spent in the dark compartment (at 8 mg/kg po), but had no effect on the total number of transitions. SR 57746A potently reduced aggressive behaviour in isolated mice, the dose of 1 mg/kg po produced over 80% inhibition of fighting in this test. SR 57746A was also active in the behavioural despair test of depression in mice and rats, and reversed learned helpless behaviour in rats. SR 57746A was also active in the behavioural despair test of depression in mice and rats, and reversed learned helpless behaviour in rats. SR 57746A dose-dependently generalised to the cue produced by 8-OH-DPAT in rats, but produced only a very weak serotonergic syndrome. Like 8-OH-DPAT and ipsapirone, SR 57746A reduced body temperature in mice, but only at a high dose (10 mg/kg po). SR 57746A reversed haloperidol-induced catalepsy in rats with an ED50 of 3.85 mg/kg po, but was unable to antagonise the stereotypy induced by apomorphine in this species. SR 57746A was inactive or only very weakly active in a series of tests typical of benzodiazepine-like activity, including antagonism of pentetrazol-induced seizures, reduction of muscle tone and locomotor activity, impairment of motor co-ordination, and potentiation of the effects of centrally-acting sedative-hypnotics. SR 57746A was also inactive as an analgesic in the PBQ writhing test. Thus, SR 57746A is active in a number of tests indicative of 5-HT1A receptor stimulation in vivo, and, more particularly, in a number of tests predictive of anxiolytic, anti-aggressive and antidepressant activities. SR 57746A is as potent as diazepam in anxiolytic tests, and more potent than imipramine in antidepressant tests, whereas it is devoid of neuroleptic potential. In view of this profile of activity, SR 57746A merits evaluation as a potential anxiolytic and antidepressant in humans.