Using microdialysis the effect was investigated of amphetamine (AMPH) infusions into the striatum on the release of GABA in the freely moving rat. AMPH (5, 10 and 20 microg/microl), infused through a microdialysis probe at the rate of 2.5 microl/min, produced a dose-related increase in extracellular concentrations of GABA. At the highest dose (20 microg/microl), AMPH increased GABA from 0.08 +/- 0.01 to 0.67 +/- 0.14 microM. Increases in extracellular GABA produced by AMPH were both calcium-dependent and high affinity GABA transporter-mediated. A medium free of calcium reduced the increase of extracellular GABA produced by AMPH by 37%. Nipecotic acid (2, 4 and 8 mM), a specific GABA re-uptake blocker, significantly attenuated increases in extracellular GABA, but not GLU, produced by AMPH (20 microg/microl). This study is the first in vivo evidence showing the release of GABA produced by AMPH through a high affinity transporter mechanism.