The catalepsy induced by subcutaneously (sc.) and intracerebroventricularly (icv.) administered cholecystokinin octapeptide sulfate ester (CCK-8-SE) and desulfated cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8-NS), and the effects of CCK-8-SE and CCK-8-NS on haloperidol-induced catalepsy, were investigated in mice. The results demonstrate the bimodal effect of CCK octapeptides in a catalepsy test. With sc. administration CCK-8-SE in the doses of 0.4 or 0.8 mumole/kg, but not CCK-8-NS at any dose, induced catalepsy. Furthermore, the catalepsy induced by CCK-8-SE was of short duration. With icv. administration only 40 pmole CCK-8-NS induced significant catalepsy. When 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 mumole/kg sc. doses of CCK-8-NS or 0.4 pmole icv. dose of CCK-8-SE or CCK-8-NS was given in combination with intraperitoneal (ip.) administration of 1.0 mg/kg haloperidol, the total duration of catalepsy was suppressed. Finally, CCK-8-SE sc. when given in combination with haloperidol ip., exerted a biphasic, synergistic-antagonistic effect on the haloperidol-induced catalepsy.