Studies have shown that the steroid anaesthetic alphaxalone positively modulates gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in vitro. It has also been reported that positive modulation of GABA(A) receptors in the rat spinal cord can produce antinociception in vivo. This present study looks at the interaction of an intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) of the steroid anaesthetic combination Saffan (alphaxalone 9 mg/ml, alphadolone acetate 3 mg/ml) with GABA(A) receptors in the spinal cord. Full recovery from anaesthesia induced by Saffan 2 ml/kg i.p., as assessed by the rotarod test, occurred after 28.78 +/- 0.86 min. Residual antinociceptive effects were assessed by application of electrical current at two skin sites (neck and tail) and also tail withdrawal from noxious heat. Residual antinociception was observed at both skin sites assessed by the electrical test but not when assessed by noxious heat. The antinociceptive effects in the tail but not the neck were suppressed by intrathecal administration of GABA(A) antagonists (bicuculline and SR-95531). In a separate group of experiments alphaxalone and alphadolone were given i.p. individually at the same doses that were given when formulated in Saffan. Alphaxalone produced sedative and anaesthetic effects with no antinociception. Alphadolone caused no sedation but it did cause antinociceptive effects equal in magnitude to those produced by Saffan. We conclude that Saffan produces antinociception in rats when given i.p. by an interaction with spinal GABA(A) receptors. Furthermore, this antinociception is due to the alphadolone content of the neurosteroid anaesthetic and not the alphaxalone.