Dopamine reaches targets in the outer retina of the clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) by diffusion from a network of dopaminergic cells and processes located predominantly at the junction of inner nuclear and inner plexiform layers. We obtained values for the steady-state release, uptake, and extracellular concentration of dopamine in the retina by a combination of HPLC (with electrochemical detection), scintillation spectroscopy, and fast-scan cyclic voltammetry. Vitreal concentrations of dopamine varied from 564 +/- 109 nM in light-adapted eyes near the time of subjective dawn to 156 +/- 12 nM in dark-adapted eyes. The data are consistent with a simple model for steady-state dopamine diffusion from an appropriately sited thin-sheet source. This model was used to generate a profile of extracellular dopamine concentration as a function of retinal depth. The model predicted an increase in the dopamine concentration from the vitreous to the layer of dopaminergic cells, remaining constant from that layer to the distal tips of the photoreceptors. This prediction was borne out by comparing fast-scan voltammetric measures of dopamine at the distal tips of the receptors with the vitreal concentrations determined by HPLC using electrochemical detection.