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The effect of morphine and naloxone on release of the excitatory amino acids (EAAs) of spinal astrocytes induced by TNF-α was studied. Astrocytes were purified from 2- to 3-day old SD rats and divided into 8 groups: group 1 (without any stimulatants); group 2 (10 ng/ml TNF-α); group3 (10 ng/ml TNF-α+0.5 μmol/L morphine); group 4 (10 ng/ml TNF-α+1.0 μmol/L morphine); group 5 (10 ng/ml TNF-α+2.0 μmol/L morphine); group 6 (10 ng/ml TNF-α+0.5 μmol/L naloxone); group 7 (10 ng/ml TNF-α+1.0 μmol/L naloxone); group 8 (10 ng/ml TNF-α +2.0 μmol/L naloxone). In group 2, 3, 4 and 5, 0, 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0 μmol/L morphine was added to the cells cultured with serum-free Neurobasal/B27 medium containing 10 ng/ml TNF-α respectively, while in group 6, 7 and 8, 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0 μmol/L naloxone was added respectively to the cells cultured with serum-free Neurobasal/B27 medium containing 10 ng/ml TNF-α. After 30 min incubation, high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to measure the levels of EAAs in all cultured cells. The results showed the level of EAAs in group 2 was significant higher than in group 1 (P<0.01). As compared with group 2, the levels of EAAs in group 3, 4 and 5 were decreased with the difference being significant between group 5 and group 2 (P<0.01) or between group 4 and group 2 (P<0.05). The levels of EAAs in group 6, 7 and group 8 was significantly lower than in group 2 (P<0.05 orP<0.01). It was concluded that TNF-α could promote the release of glutamate and aspartate from astrocytes, and morphine and naloxone might reduce the release of EAAs in cultured spinal astrocytes induced by TNF-α.