The effects of three psychomotor stimulants (mazindol, beta-phenylethylamine and D-phenmetrazine) on electrically evoked neostriatal dopamine release were studied by in vivo voltammetry. Mazindol (10 mg/kg) enhanced release and this effect persisted after dopamine synthesis inhibition by alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine. beta-Phenylethylamine (100 mg/kg) caused a large decrease in stimulated dopamine release and exerted no effect after dopamine synthesis inhibition. D-Phenmetrazine (45 mg/kg) enhanced dopamine release on the first post-drug stimulation and also restored release after dopamine synthesis inhibition. Disruption of vesicular dopamine storage by Ro 4-1284 abolished electrically stimulated dopamine release. Only D-phenmetrazine was able to cause dopamine release following Ro 4-1284. These results imply different biochemical modes of action of these three stimulants.