Four muscarinic receptor antagonists with varying selectivities for the four pharmacologically-defined muscarinic receptor subtypes (M1-M4) were administered into the lateral ventricle to determine their relative potency in reducing tremulous jaw movements induced by i.p. injection of the muscarinic receptor agonist pilocarpine (4.0 mg/kg). All four muscarinic receptor antagonists reduced tremulous jaw movements in a dose-dependent manner, with the following rank order of potency: scopolamine > methoctramine > or = telenzepine > pirenzepine. This pattern is inconsistent with the rank order of affinity of these agents at the muscarinic M1 receptor, and is consistent with their rank order of affinity at muscarinic M2 or M4 receptors. Because tremulous jaw movements are related to striatal function, and the muscarinic M4 receptor is more predominant than the muscarinic M2 receptor as a post-synaptic receptor in striatum, the present results suggest that pilocarpine induces jaw movements due to muscarinic M4 receptor stimulation. In view of the hypothesized relation between parkinsonism and cholinomimetic-induced jaw movements, these data suggest that a centrally-acting muscarinic M4 receptor antagonist could be useful as an antiparkinsonian agent.