Bifeprunox and aripiprazole are two novel antipsychotics presenting partial agonistic activity for the D(2) and D(3) dopamine (DA) receptors. Using in vivo electrophysiological paradigms in anaesthetized rats, we have previously shown that both drugs independently inhibit the spontaneous firing and bursting activity of ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopaminergic neurons and partially reverse the suppressing effect of the full DA receptor agonist apomorphine. Moreover, we have also shown that the D(2/3) receptor antagonist haloperidol prevents the inhibitory effects of these antipsychotics, confirming their partial D(2)-like agonistic activities [L. Dahan, H. Husum, O. Mnie-Filali, J. Arnt, P. Hertel, N. Haddjeri, Effects of bifeprunox and aripiprazole on rat serotonin and dopamine neuronal activity and anxiolytic behaviour, J. Psychopharmacol. (2009)]. In the present electrophysiological study, selective antagonists of D(2) and D(3) receptors were used to further characterize the inhibitory role of bifeprunox and aripiprazole on the D(2) and D(3) receptors in vivo. Administration of bifeprunox (250 microg/kg, i.v.) or aripiprazole (300 microg/kg, i.v.) reduced the firing activity of VTA DA neurons by 40-50%. The bursting activity was reduced by 95% and 77% by bifeprunox and aripiprazole, respectively. Systemic administration of the preferential D(3) receptor antagonist GR218,231 (200 microg/kg, i.v.) did not modify the inhibitory effect of bifeprunox or aripiprazole, either on the firing or on the bursting activity. On the other hand, the preferential D(2) receptor antagonist L741,626 (500 microg/kg, i.v.) completely blocked the inhibitory effect of both bifeprunox and aripiprazole on the VTA DA neuronal activity. The present study shows that bifeprunox and aripiprazole behave as partial D(2), but not D(3), receptor agonists in vivo, inhibiting the firing activity (preferentially the phasic activity) of VTA DA cells.