The effects of intrathecal (i.t.) serotonin (5-HT) and a number of serotonergic receptor agonists on nociception and blood pressure were examined in rats. Intrathecal 5-HT produced dose-dependent inhibition of the nociceptive tail-flick reflex (ED50 = 100.0 micrograms) and dose-dependent depressor effects. The 5-HT1A agonist 8-hydroxy-N,N-dipropyl-2-aminotetralin and the 5HT1B agonist 5-methoxy-3-(1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-4-pyridinyl)-1H-indole (RU-24969) also produced depressor effects but, in contrast to 5-HT, facilitated the tail-flick reflex, whereas the 5-HT2 agonists 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane, 6-chloro-2-(1-piperazinyl)-pyrazine (MK-212) and quipazine produced dose-dependent antinociception and had little or no effect on blood pressure. These results suggest that the antinociceptive and depressor effects of i.t. 5-HT are mediated by spinal 5-HT2 and 5-HT1 receptors, respectively. In other experiments, rats chronically treated with i.t. 5-HT developed tolerance to its antinociceptive effects, whereas chronic i.t. morphine or clonidine did not produce cross-tolerance to i.t. 5-HT. These results suggest that serotonergic spinal antinociceptive mechanisms are distinct from the mechanisms by which opioid receptor and alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonists produce antinociception in the spinal cord.