1. Using pharmacological analysis and fura-2 spectrofluorimetry, we examined the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and related substances on intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)]i) of hybrid neurones, called MD3 cells. The cell line was produced by fusion between a mouse neuroblastoma cell and a mouse dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurone. 2. MD3 cells exhibited DRG neurone-like properties, such as immunoreactivity to microtubule-associated protein-2 and neurofilament proteins. Bath applications of capsaicin and alpha, beta-methylene adenosine triphosphate reversibly increased [Ca(2+)]i. However, repeated applications of capsaicin were much less effective. 3. Pressure applications of GABA (100 microM), (Z)-3-[(aminoiminomethyl) thio] prop-2-enoic acid sulphate (ZAPA; 100 microM), an agonist at low affinity GABA(A)-receptors, or KCl (25 mM), transiently increased [Ca(2+)]i. 4. Bath application of bicuculline (100 nM - 100 microM), but not picrotoxinin (10 - 25 microM), antagonized GABA-induced increases in [Ca(2+)]i in a concentration-dependent manner (IC(50)=9.3 microM). 5. Ca(2+)-free perfusion reversibly abolished GABA-evoked increases in [Ca(2+)]i. Nifedipine and nimodipine eliminated GABA-evoked increases in [Ca(2+)]i. These results imply GABA response dependence on extracellular Ca(2+). 6. Baclofen (500 nM - 100 microM) activation of GABA(B)-receptors reversibly attenuated KCl-induced increases in [Ca(2+)]i in a concentration-dependent manner (EC(50)=1.8 microM). 2-hydroxy-saclofen (1 - 20 microM) antagonized the baclofen-depression of the KCl-induced increase in [Ca(2+)]i. 7. In conclusion, GABA(A)-receptor activation had effects similar to depolarization by high external K(+), initiating Ca(2+) influx through high voltage-activated channels, thereby transiently elevating [Ca(2+)]i. GABA(B)-receptor activation reduced Ca(2+) influx evoked by depolarization, possibly at Ca(2+)-channel sites in MD3 cells.