We have previously reported that AMPA-receptor blockade within the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) attenuates cardiovascular responses and extracellular concentrations of glutamate during mechanical, but not during thermal stimulation [Gray, T., Lewis III, E., Maher, T.J., Ally, A., 2001. AMPA-receptor blockade within the RVLM modulates cardiovascular responses via glutamate during peripheral stimuli. Pharmacol. Res. 43, 47-54]. In this study, we examined the role of NMDA-receptor blockade within the RVLM on cardiovascular responses and release of biogenic monoamines (serotonin [5HT], dopamine [DA], and norepinephrine [NE]) during both mechanical and thermal nociception using anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats. Both mechanical and thermal stimulation have been shown to activate peripheral Adelta and C-fiber polymodal nociceptors. Noxious mechanical stimuli were induced by applying a pinch to alternate hindpaw for 5s while the noxious thermal stimuli involved immersion of the metatarsus of alternate hindpaw in a water bath at a temperature of 52 degrees C for 5 s. Mechanical stimulation increased mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), extracellular fluid 5HT, and DA concentrations (n=10). However, extracellular levels of NE were decreased within the RVLM. Furthermore, NMDA-receptor blockade with a competitive antagonist, AP-7 (200 nM), within the RVLM attenuated the cardiovascular responses and changes in 5HT and DA, but had no effect on NE levels. The thermal stimulation elicited similar increases in MAP and HR, however, extracellular levels of 5HT or DA did not change. Concentrations of NE were decreased during a thermal stimulation similar to the levels observed following mechanical stimuli. In contrast to mechanical stimuli, bilateral administration of AP-7 (200-1 mM) into the RVLM had no effect on cardiovascular responses, 5HT, DA or NE concentrations during a thermal stimulation. These results show that NMDA receptors within the RVLM most likely play a role in modulating cardiovascular responses by altering 5HT and DA concentrations within the RVLM during mechanical but not thermal nociception. Overall, the present study delineates the NMDA-receptor mediated central integrative mechanisms within the RVLM that coordinate processing of sensory impulses arising from peripheral noxious stimulation.