Effects of intravenous antagonists of excitatory amino acids on decerebrate rigidity in the rat were examined. Kynurenate, ketamine, (4S, 5R)-4-(2-methylpropyl)-3-[3-(perhydroazepin-1-yl)propyl]-5-phenyl- 1,3- oxazolidin-2-one hydrochloride (MLV-6976), (+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d] cyclo-hepten-5,10-imine maleate (MK-801), 3-((/-)-2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)-propyl-1-phosphonic acid (CPP) and DL-2-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoic acid (APH) reduced the severity of decerebrate rigidity in a dose-dependent manner, although there was a large variability in the effective doses. The blood pressure, which was determined simultaneously, did not show a uniform change in the presence of these antagonists. The time course of the change of the blood pressure did not coincide with that of decerebrate rigidity. These results suggest a possibility that the glutamatergic system may function, at least in part, in the onset of the decerebrate rigidity.