The novel anxiolytic ipsapirone appears to interact selectively with 5-hydroxytryptaminelA (5-HT1*) receptors. The present study investigated 1) the discriminability of ipsapirone using a two-lever, water-reinforced task and 2) the importance of 5-HTIA and catecholamine systems in the ipsapirone cue. To this end, rats were trained to discriminate ipsapirone (7.5 mglkg; N = 14) from saline. Dose-response tests indicated that the ipsapirone cue was dose dependent. Buspirone and 8-OH DPAT substituted while the dopamine (DA) D, agonist SKF 38393, the DA D2 agonist quinpirole, and the oc2-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine engendered saline responding. Furthermore, the D, antagonist SCH 23390, the D2 antagonist sulpiride, and the putative 5-HTIA antagonist spiroxatrine did not block or mimic the ipsapirone cue. This research suggests that catecholamine systems do not play a prominent role in mediating the stimulus properties of ipsapirone. Moreover, while the substitution profile for ipsapirone suggests that this novel anxiolytic may be a selective 5-HTIA agonist, blockade of the ipsapirone cue by a 5-HTIA antagonist remains to be established.