MHP-133 is be active (>50% displacement or activity) against muscarinic M1 and M2 receptors, serotonin 5HT4 receptors, and imidazole I2 receptors. MHP-133 exhibits this nicotinic-like activity in the cell line. Although the ED ₅₀ for inducing TrkA expression is only about 1 μM, it does predicts the cytoprotective action of MHP-133 in differentiated PC-12 cells deprived of growth factor for 24 h. MHP-133 (10-100 μM) significantly increases the levels of sAPP from cultured astrocytes by 40-60%. MHP-133 produces a bi-phasic effect on slice survival, particularly in the dentate gyrus and the CA1 regions.

In rats, MHP-133 (50, 100, or 200 μg/kg, i.p.) enhances acquisition of the task and increases task accuracy. MHP-133 elicits significant improvements in task accuracies during sessions initiated 10 min after dosing.