Ten substance P (SP) analogues were tested for their effects on mean arterial pressure and heart rate following intrathecal administration in the pentobarbital anaesthetized rat. The 10 analogues are [D-Pro4,D-alpha Npa7,9,10]SP(4-11) (A-I), (D-alpha Npa7,9,10]SP (A-II), [D-Trp7,9,10]SP (A-III), [D-Pro4,D-Npa7,9,Phe11]SP(4-11) (A-IV), [D-Pro4,D-beta Npa7,D-alpha Npa9,D-Phe11]SP(4-11) (A-V), [D-Pro4,Lys6,D-Trp7,9,10,Phe11]SP(4-11) (A-VI), [D-Pro4,D-Trp7,9,10,Phe11]SP(4-11) (A-VII), [D-Pro4,D-Trp7,9,10,Trp11]SP(4-11) (A-VIII), [D-Trp7,9,10,Trp11]SP (A-IX), and [D-Pro4,D-Phe7,9,10,Phe11]SP(4-11) (A-X). At 6.5 nmol, the analogues containing the amino acid D-Npa (A-I, A-II, A-IV, and A-V) or D-Phe (A-X) in positions 7, 9, or 10 of SP or its C-terminal octapeptide are devoid of the long-lasting cardio- and vaso-depressor effects, which are otherwise seen with analogues containing the amino acid D-Trp (A-III, A-VI, A-VII, A-VIII, and A-IX) in the same positions. Some of the analogues containing D-Npa maintain the initial hypotensive effect seen with SP while the analogue containing D-Phe produces only a small hypertensive response. The 10 analogues when tested at a dose that failed to alter basal mean arterial pressure and heart rate did not block the cardiovascular responses elicited by SP and no cross desensitization was observed between SP and these analogues. It appears that these SP analogues exert cardiovascular effects in the rat spinal cord probably without interacting with SP receptors.