The roles of the endogenous adenosine on acetylcholine release via adenosine A(1) receptor were investigated in rat cerebral cortex using brain microdialysis. Oral administration of KF15372 (8-dicyclopropylmethyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine), a novel selective adenosine A(1) receptor antagonist, at doses of 1.25, 5, and 20 mg/kg, significantly increased the extracellular levels of acetylcholine in rat cerebral cortex. Selective A(1) agonist N-6-((R)-phenylisopropyl) adenosine (R-PIA) did not affect the extracellular level of acetylcholine by both oral (1.25 mg/kg) and intracortical administrations (0.3 mu M) via dialysis probe. These results suggest that the extracellular level of acetylcholine is under tonic inhibitory control of endogenous adenosine via the A(1) receptor.