The effects of unilateral application of GABA (10(-5) M) into thalamic motor nuclei (ventralis medialis-ventralis lateralis, VM-VL) on 5-HT transmission in basal ganglia were investigated in halothane-anaesthetized cats implanted with several push-pull cannulae. The release of [3H]5-HT continuously synthesized from [3H]tryptophan was estimated in both caudate nuclei (CN), both substantia nigrae (SN) and in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN). [3H]5-HT release was decreased in the two CN and in the two SN but was enhanced in the DRN when GABA was applied into the VM-VL. These results indicate that thalamic motor nuclei are involved in a bilateral regulation of serotoninergic transmission in the basal ganglia.