We have studied the effect of glutamate and the glutamatergic agonists N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), kainate, and alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA) on [3H]GABA release from the external plexiform layer of the olfactory bulb. The GABA uptake blocker nipecotic acid significantly increased the basal [3H]GABA release and the release evoked by a high K+ concentration, glutamate, and kainate. The glutamate uptake blocker pyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylate (2,4-PDC) inhibited by 50% the glutamate-induced [3H]GABA release with no change in the basal GABA release. The glutamatergic agonists NMDA, kainate, and AMPA also induced a significant [3H]GABA release. The presence of glycine and the absence of Mg2+ have no potentiating effect on NMDA-stimulated release; however, when the tissue was previously depolarized with a high K+ concentration, a significant increase in the NMDA response was observed that was potentiated by glycine and inhibited by the NMDA receptor antagonist 2-amino-5-phosphonoheptanoic acid (AP-7). The kainate and AMPA effects were antagonized by the non-NMDA receptor antagonist 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX) but not by AP-7. The glutamate effect was also inhibited by CNQX but not by the NMDA antagonist 2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (AP-5); nevertheless, in the presence of glycine, [3H]GABA release evoked by glutamate was potentiated, and this response was significantly antagonized by AP-5. Tetrodotoxin inhibited glutamate- and kainate-stimulated [3H]GABA release but not the NMDA-stimulated release.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)