1 The effect of dopamine on amylase secretion by rat parotid tissue was examined in vitro.2 Dopamine induced marked amylase secretion from the tissue in a dose-dependent manner. Its EC50 value was about 4 gM and the maximal response was obtained at a concentration of 100 AM.3 The dopamine-induced secretion was inhibited by the dopamine-antagonists haloperidol, (+)-butaclamol and spiroperidol. 4 Atropine reduced the dopamine-induced secretion significantly, and physostigmine enhanced the secretion. 5 Parasympathectomy of the gland resulted in a significant decrease in the dopamine-induced secretion, but did not reduce the secretion induced by dopamine with atropine. 6 Dopamine-induced ACh release from parasympathetic nerve terminals in the tissue was studied in tissue preparations that had been loaded with [3H]-choline. Dopamine elicited Ca2+-sensitive tritium release, and dopamine antagonists or parasympathectomy prevented this release. 7 Sympathectomy or reserpine treatment of rats resulted in significant decrease in the dopamineinduced secretion, but increase in noradrenaline (NA)-or isoprenaline-induced secretion. 8 Dopamine-induced NA release was studied by preloading the parotid tissue with [3H]-NA. Dopamine induced Ca2"-sensitive tritium release, and dopamine antagonists or sympathectomy prevented the release. 9 Several lines of circumstantial evidence strongly suggested that dopamine has a specific site for action in the parotid tissue that is independent of NA receptors. 10 In sympathectomized or reserpine-treated glands, atropine completely inhibited the dopamineinduced amylase secretion, suggesting that dopamine did not have a direct effect on postsynapses. 11 These findings indicate that dopamine induces amylase secretion in two indirect ways mediated through ACh and NA released from parasympathetic and sympathetic nerve terminals, respectively.