Differences between the pharmacological effects of bromazepam given by oral and rectal administration were investigated in mice and rats. 1) Bromazepam dose-dependently prolonged the sleeping time induced by thiopental-Na, ethanol and ether by both administration routes. 2) The analgesic action of bromazepam was recognized by the hot-plate method and the algolytic test. In the hot-plate test, analgesic actions of morphine and pentazocine were potentiated by bromazepam in a dose of 0.5 mg/kg by both routes. 3) The muscle relaxant effect of bromazepam administered rectally was more potent than that administered orally in the inclined screen test and the rotarod test. This effect of bromazepam by rectal administration was approximately 2 times as potent as that by oral administration. 4) Bromazepam inhibited the convulsion induced by maximum electric shock, pentylenetetrazol and picrotoxin. In pentylenetetrazol-induced convulsion, the inhibitory effect of bromazepam administered rectally was 2 times as potent as that administered orally. In the other convulsion test, no significant differences between oral and rectal administration could be recognized. 5) Hyperemotionality and muricide (mouse-killing behaviour) of rats with bilateral olfactory bulb ablations (OB rat) were reduced by oral and rectal administrations of bromazepam in a dose-dependent manner. The effects by rectal administration were more potent than that by oral administration. Bromazepam was approximately 20 times as potent as diazepam administered by the same route. Fighting behaviour in mice subjected to footshock was suppressed by rectal administration of bromazepam, and this effect was as same as that by oral administration. 6) The rate of lever pressing response in the lateral hypothalamic self-stimulation test in the Skinner box was markedly increased by rectal administration of 0.2 mg/kg bromazepam. 7) Methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity of mice was significantly suppressed only by bromazepam administered rectally in a dose of 5 mg/kg. 8) The falling effect of bromazepam on body temperature in normal rats was the same in both administration routes and was dose-dependent. From these data, significant differences of the pharmacological effects between oral and rectal administration of bromazepam were recognized in the duration of action and, in part, potencies; and therefore, rectal administration of bromazepam may be a useful dosage form for clinical use.