The anti-emetic potential of CP-122,721 ((+)-2S,3S)-3-(2-methoxy-5-trifluoromethoxybenzyl)amino-2-phenylpi peridine), CP-99,994 ((+)-(2S,3S)-3-(2-methoxybenzylamino)-2-phenylpiperidine), CP-100,263 ((-)-(2R,3R)-3-(2-methoxybenzylamino)-2-phenylpiperidine), RP 67580 ((3R, 7aR)-7,7-diphenyl-2-[1-imino-2-(2-methoxyphenyl)ethyl] po-hydroisoindol-4-one), FK 888 (N2-[(4R)-4-hydroxy-1-(1-methyl-1H-in-dole-3-yl)carbonyl-L-propyl] -N-methyl-N-phenylmethyl-1-3-(2-naphthyl)-alaninamide) and GR 82334 ([D-Pro9[spiro-g-lactam]Leu10]-physalaemin-(1-11)) was investigated to inhibit nicotine (5 mg/kg, s.c.)-, copper sulphate pentahydrate (120 mg/kg, intragastric)- and motion (4 cm horizontal displacement at 1 Hz for 5 min)-induced emesis in Suncus murinus. A 30 min intraperitoneal pre-treatment with CP-122,721, CP-99,994, RP 67580 and FK 888 significantly (P < 0.05) antagonized nicotine-induced emesis with ID50 values of 2.1, 2.3, 13.5 and 19.2 mg/kg, respectively CP-100,263, the less active enantiomer of CP-99,994, was inactive at doses up to 10 mg/kg. Infusion of GR 82334, CP-122,721, CP-99,994 and FK 888 into the dorsal vagal complex of the hindbrain also antagonized nicotine-induced emesis yielding ID50 values of 1.1, 3.0, 3.3 and 58.0 microg/dorsal vagal complex, respectively RP 67580 and CP-100,263 were inactive. RP 67580 and FK 888 failed to antagonize copper sulphate-induced emesis but CP-122,721 and CP-99,994 were active yielding ID50 values of 2.2 and 3.0 mg/kg, i.p., respectively. CP-99,994 also completely prevented motion-induced emesis at 10 mg/kg, i.p. (P < 0.05) and RP 67580 produced a significant reduction of motion-induced emesis at 10 mg/kg, i.p. (P < 0.05). These studies provide evidence of a central site of action of tachykinin NK1 receptor antagonists to inhibit nicotine-induced emesis in S. murinus and confirm the broad profile of inhibitory action. The rank order of potency of the antagonists following the intra-dorsal vagal complex administration suggests that the S. murinus tachykinin NK1 receptor has a unique pharmacological profile.