The dopamine (DA) D-1 and D-2 receptors coupled to adenylate cyclase in the rat retina were characterized pharmacologically. In confirmation of reports using other neural tissues, activation of D-1 receptors with DA, apomorphine or SKF 38393 resulted in activation of adenylate cyclase and enhanced accumulation of cyclic AMP (cAMP). The response to DA was blocked by SCH 23390, a D-1 receptor antagonist. D-2 receptors negatively coupled to adenylate cyclase were demonstrated by preincubating retina with SCH 23390 and then with DA or apomorphine. D-2 receptor responses were also elicited with quinpirole or bromocriptine, D-2 receptor agonists, in the absence of SCH 23390. (+)-Butaclamol, but not (-)-butaclamol, blocked the D-2 receptor-induced decrease of cAMP. Moreover, I-sulpiride was more active than d-sulpiride in reversing the DA-induced inhibition of cAMP accumulation. D-1 and D-2 receptor responses were also evident in forskolin-activated retina. The intraocular injection of pertussis toxin prevented the fall of cAMP and enhanced the rise of cAMP by DA, indirectly implicating the need for a guanine nucleotide regulatory protein in the process. Our results demonstrate that retinal tissue contains DA receptors that are similar to those found in brain and they imply that therapeutic agents that interact with the receptors in brain might interact with the receptors in retina.