The administration of oxotremorine together with methylatropine to rats produces a dose-dependent increase of adrenal dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) activity. This effect is abolished by denervation of the gland and by cycloheximide. The Km for tyramine is not affected by the trans-synaptic induction of DBH by oxotremorine. The induction is selective, because similar treatment does not affect adrenal dopa decarboxylase or lactate dehydrogenase in the adrenal gland. The combination of 6-hydroxydopamine i.c.v. or propranolol i.p. does not alter the effect of oxotremorine on adrenal DBH. However, propranolol reduces the tremorigenic action of the muscarinic agonist. The systemic administration of p-chlorophenylalanine or the i.c.v. injection of 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine before oxotremorine treatment does not affect the increase of adrenal DBH. Progabide, gamma-aminobutyric acid, a (GABA)A and GABAB receptor agonist that effectively crosses the blood-brain barrier, reduces the effect of oxotremorine in a dose-dependent manner. Muscimol given by either of two routes, i.c.v. at a constant rate (Alzet minipump) or i.p., produces significant decreases of adrenal DBH activity and attenuates the action of oxotremorine. Denervation of the gland abolishes the effect of muscimol i.p. in decreasing adrenal DBH activity. Baclofen, a GABAB receptor agonist, has no effect by itself or does it affect the action of oxotremorine. None of these GABA agonists has any in vitro effect on adrenal DBH activity. Bicuculline, GABAA receptor antagonist, reverses the action of progabide in oxotremorine-treated rats with respect to adrenal DBH activity, partially blocks the effect of muscimol and enhances the increase obtained with oxotremorine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)