We examined the role and the peripheral mechanism of action of central dopamine on basal pancreatic exocrine secretion in conscious rats. Rats were fitted with bile and pancreatic catheters to collect bile and pancreatic juice separately and also with a left lateral brain ventricle and external jugular vein catheters. After 90-min basal collection, the D₁- and D₂-receptor antagonists (Sch-23390 and eticlopride, respectively) and dopamine were administered into the lateral brain ventricle. Sch-23390 (30, 100, and 300 nmol/rat), but not eticlopride (300 nmol/rat), stimulated pancreatic fluid and protein secretion. Dopamine (30, 100, and 300 nmol/rat) inhibited pancreatic secretion dose dependently. Pretreatment with Sch-23390 prevented the inhibitory effect of dopamine. Intravenously injected Sch-23390 or dopamine had no effect on pancreatic secretion. The inhibitory effect of dopamine was blocked by bretylium, an inhibitor of norepinephrine release, and phentolamine, an -blocker, but not by vagotomy. The -antagonist propranolol alone significantly inhibited basal pancreatic secretion, and dopamine did not modify the inhibitory effect of propranolol. The proton pump inhibitor omeprazole partially but not completely reduced the inhibition by dopamine. These results suggest that central dopamine inhibits pancreatic exocrine secretion via D₁-like receptors and that the inhibitory effect is mediated via sympathetic nerves, especially -adrenoceptors.