Rotigotine (N-0923) has a 10-fold selectivity for D3 (pK _i 9.2) receptors compared with D2, D4 and D5 (pK _i 8.5-8.0) and a 100-fold selectivity compared with D1 receptors (pK _i 7.2). In functional studies, Rotigotine (N-0923) behaves as full agonist at all dopamine receptors but notably the potency for stimulation of D1 receptors is similar to that for D2 and D3 receptors (pEC ₅₀ respectively: 9.0, 9.4-8.6, 9.7). Rotigotine (N-0923) (10 µM) decreases the number of THir neurons by 40% in primary mesencephalic cell culture. Rotigotine (0.01 µM) slightly protects dopaminergic neurons against MPP ⁺ toxicity, significantly protects dopaminergic neurons against rotenone-induced cell death, and significantly inhibits ROS production by rotenone.

In primed rats, Rotigotine (N-0923) (0.035, 0.1 and 0.35 mg/kg) induces contralateral turning behavior in a dose dependent manner. In drug naive rats, the turning behavior induced by Rotigotine, either alone or in combination with SCH 39166, is reduced compared to primed rats.