We previously observed that morphine markedly amplifies LH secretion following intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) norepinephrine (NE) infusions. Based on additional evidence, we hypothesized that perhaps these morphine effects were due to suppression of tuberoinfundibular dopamine (TIDA) secretion thus allowing NE to evoke a greater release of LHRH from axon terminals in the median eminence than would otherwise occur. In the present studies, we examined whether apomorphine (a DA receptor agonist) would suppress and haloperidol (a DA receptor antagonist) would mimic these enhancing effects of morphine on NE-induced LH secretion. Estrogen-treated ovariectomized rats were used in these studies. NE, when infused i.c.v. (45 micrograms) evoked a modest increase in plasma LH (1.1 +/- 0.2 to 2.2 +/- 0.2 ng/ml) within 15 min. When morphine sulfate (10 mg/kg s.c.) was given 15 min prior to NE, LH peak values of 11 +/- 2 ng/ml were obtained by 60 min. Treatment of rats with apomorphine (1.5 mg/kg s.c.) at -15 min, morphine at 0 min and i.c.v. NE at 15 min resulted in a significant blunting of morphine's effect on NE-induced LH release. Moreover, in all morphine-treated rats, plasma prolactin (PRL) increased significantly within 10 min, peaked at 30 min and declined towards basal values by 90 min. Apomorphine completely blocked this morphine effect of PRL release. Haloperidol (HAL; 2.5 mg/kg s.c.) treatment had no effect on basal LH release but resulted in a significant increase in PRL which remained elevated up to 180 min.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)