Glucagon and its receptors have been identified within the mammalian brain, and their anatomical distribution correlates well with the distribution of opioid peptides and their receptors. To evaluate possible physiological interactions between these two peptidergic systems, we examined the effects of glucagon on two opioid responses - bradycardia and antinociception. Glucagon administered either intravenously (iv) (100-1000 micrograms/kg) or intracerebroventricularly (icv) (5 micrograms) significantly attenuated morphine-induced (200 micrograms/kg, iv) bradycardia without producing any alterations in cardiovascular parameters when given alone. Furthermore, glucagon did not antagonize the bradycardia produced by phenyldiguanide (10 micrograms/kg, iv), a non-opioid substance. Peripheral (1 mg/kg, iv) and central (5 micrograms, icv) glucagon pretreatment antagonized morphine-induced (7.5 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) antinociception by 67% and 86%, respectively, at 30 minutes (as determined by the hot plate test). Glucagon treatment alone at these doses did not alter baseline response latencies. In both cases, central injections of glucagon were more effective than iv injections in antagonizing morphine's effects. These findings demonstrate a central action for glucagon and provide the first evidence that this neuropeptide may function as an endogenous antagonist of opioid actions.