Two mu and two delta opiopeptides were administered intracisternally and morphine was administered systemically to rats. The level of dopamine (DA) and its catabolites, homovanillic acid, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and 3-methoxytramine were measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography with electrical detector in rat striatum to determine: 1) whether opioids alter the release of DA from striatal neuron (which would be indicated by changes in the level of 3-methoxytramine, the extraneuronal catabolite) and 2) whether delta or mu ligands have a greater effect on DA turnover. We found that the levels of 3-methoxytramine did not rise in response to the administration of any opiopeptide or morphine. However, mu opiopeptides produced a small but significant decrease in these levels, indicating that there was no increase, but instead a slight decrease in DA release. The delta opiopeptides produced larger increases in homovanillic acid and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid than the mu ligands, indicating that delta ligands are more effective on an equidose basis in increasing the turnover of striatal DA. The opiopeptides were also tested for pharmacological activity at the same dose (3 micrograms/rat). All four peptides were effective in reducing locomotor activity and producing analgesia. One peptide, Tyr-d-Ala-Gly-N-Mephe-Met-O-ol, also produced catalepsy. There was no segregation of these two behavioral responses according to ligand specificity. Morphine acted like a delta ligand in affecting DA turnover.