1. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta9-THC) and possible serotoninergic involvement on the extracellular level of dopamine (DA) in the striatum using microdialysis in conscious, freely-moving rats. 2. A dose-dependent increase in striatal DA release occurred after i.v. administration of 0.5 - 5 mg kg-1 Delta9-THC when compared with vehicle (n=5 - 8, P<0.05). Maximum increases, ranging from 42.1+/-5. 4% to 97.4+/-5.9% (means+/-s.e.mean) of basal levels occurred 20 min after Delta9-THC. This effect was abolished by pretreatment with the cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist, SR 141716 (2.5 mg kg-1 i.p.). 3. Pretreatment with fluoxetine (10 mg kg-1 i.p.) abolished the Delta9-THC-induced DA release. Fluoxetine 10 mg kg-1 i.p. administered 40 min after Delta9-THC had no significant effect on Delta9-THC-induced DA release. However, fluoxetine perfused locally into the striatum by adding it to the microdialysis perfusion fluid (10 microM) 40 min after Delta9-THC significantly potentiated the Delta9-THC-induced DA release (n=6 - 8, P<0.05). 4. These results suggest that DA release induced by Delta9-THC is modulated by serotoninergic changes induced by fluoxetine, the effect of which depends on the time of its administration relative to that of Delta9-THC. Fluoxetine induces an acute increase in extracellular 5-HT through reuptake inhibition, which can activate autoreceptors which may decrease serotoninergic neuronal activity. This may be the reason fluoxetine pretreatment abolished the Delta9-THC-induced DA release. The potentiation of Delta9-THC-induced DA release by fluoxetine perfusion added 40 min after Delta9-THC may be due to an acute increase in 5-HT produced by reuptake inhibition.