The characteristics of substance P release have been investigated in the rat substantia nigra, in vitro, using a sensitive radioimmunoassay method. The spontaneous efflux of substance P represented approximately 0.5% of tissue stores released per minute. Addition of potassium to the superfusion medium produced a concentration-dependent increase in substance P release which was linear over the range 15--60 mM potassium. The potassium-evoked release of substance P was almost totally abolished by removal of calcium from the superfusion medium, and was linearly related to an increase in calcium concentration with a corresponding decrease in the magnesium concentrations over the range 0.1--3.0 mM calcium. Veratridine (50 micrometer) also evoked the release of substance P in a calcium- and tetrodotoxin-sensitive manner. Superfusion of substantia nigra slices with GABA produced a concentration-dependent inhibition in the K+-evoked release of substance P which could be abolished by continuous superfusion with picrotoxin. Bicuculline was less effective than picrotoxin in blocking the effects of GABA. The GABA agonist muscimol also produced an inhibition of substance P release, whereas baclofen was without effect. These results support the concept that substance P may function as a neurotransmitter within the substantia nigra, and suggest that GABA may have a role in the regulation of substance P release.