A TSPO agonist (IC50 = 0.28 nM in a radioligand binding assay); selective for TSPO over CBR and GABAA receptors in rat whole brain membranes, as well as a panel of 54 ion channels, uptake/transporters, and secondary messenger receptors at concentrations greater than 10 μM; increases mitochondrial prognenolone formation in rat brain homogenates, which indirectly potentiates GABAA receptor signaling; increases the time mice spend in the light area of the light/dark exploration and the time rats spend in open arms of the elevated plus maze in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting a decrease in anxiety-like behavior; radiolabeled versions have been synthesized to study the distribution of PBRs in neurological disease models using PET