Using immunohistochemical techniques and antiserum directed to the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase, dopaminergic amacrine cells have been directly visualized in the rabbit retina. Tyrosine hydroxylase-like (TH) immunoreactive somata are observed only within the proximal inner nuclear layer (INL). These cells give rise to varicose processes, which are distributed to laminae 1, 3, and 5 of the inner plexiform layer. TH immunoreactive amacrine cells as observed from flat mounted, whole retina preparations have a medium- to large-sized somata. Their processes have extensive fields that provide at least a threefold coverage of any retinal region. As a population, these cells are located in all areas of the retina and are distributed in a sparse, nonrandom manner. These general features of the rabbit dopaminergic cell population appear to be representative of dopaminergic cell systems in other vertebrate retinas.