The brain lesion technique was used to destroy the ascending 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) system at its cell bodies in the dorsal and medial raphe nuclei in order to assess the importance of 5-HT for the induction of harmine tremor and its antagonism by the dopaminergic agonists, L-DOPA, apomorphine and d-amphetamine. Lesions of the medial or dorsal raphe nucleus reduced the intensity of harmine tremor. The remaining tremor was generally resistant to further reduction by the dopaminergic agonists. 5-hydroxytryptophan was shown to enhance tremor: this effect was reduced both by the raphe lesions and by treatment with L-DOPA. The data are discussed in terms of the possible relationship between 5-HT and dopamine.