1. The release of SPLI evoked by high levels of K+ (50 mM) from the spinal cord of diabetic rats was greater than in the case of spinal cord from control rats. 2. Morphine (10(-5) M) significantly inhibited the K(+)-evoked release of SPLI release in both the groups. However, in spinal cord from diabetic rats, morphine reduced the K(+)-evoked release of SPLI only to the levels that were observed in material from control rats prior to treatment with morphine. 3. Glucose (20 mM) and dibutyryl cyclic-AMP (10(-4) M) significantly potentiated the K(+)-evoked release of SPLI in spinal cord from control rats. 4. These findings suggest that excessive release of SPLI from the spinal cord may be associated with the reported abnormalities in nociceptive transmission in diabetic rats, and that excessive release of SPLI may be modulated by levels of glucose and/or cyclic-AMP in the spinal cord.