[3H]-Dopamine was found to be released from the rabbit retina in vitro by light stimulation, by 40 mM K+, and by alpha-MSH (alpha-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone) down to about 10(-7) M. The effect of alpha-MSH was dose-dependent. A number of known and putative retinal neurotransmitters and agonists (GABA, muscimol, glutamic acid, kainic acid, glycine, and carbachol, all 10(-4) M) were without significant effect. The results show that it is unlikely that there are excitatory receptors on the retinal dopaminergic neurons to any of the conventional transmitters. Further, alpha-MSH seems of interest as a possible neuroactive retinal substance, which was previously not been suspected.