The effects of 11 calcium antagonists on (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, Mg2+-ATPase and Ca2+-ATPase activities of rat cortical synaptosomes were studied. 2. All the calcium antagonists studied had inhibitory effects on ouabain-sensitive (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, Mg2+-ATPase and Ca2+-ATPase activities in synaptosomes at high concentrations (10 or 100 microM). 3. Calcium antagonists such as trifluoperazine, flunarizine and cinnarizine had inhibitory effects on Ca2+-ATPase activity at low concentrations (1-10 microM). 4. Trifluoperazine and La3+ had inhibitory effects on Mg2+-ATPase activity at low concentration (1 microM). 5. Our results suggest that most of the calcium antagonists studied have little effects on neuronal (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, Mg2+-ATPase and Ca2+-ATPase activities at therapeutic dose ranges (1 microM or lower).