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The effects of various peptidase inhibitors were examined upon the K+-evoked overflow of substance-like immunoreactive material (SPLI) from slices of rat substantia nigra in order to assess the possible involvement of "enkephalinase," angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and calpain in the enzymatic inactivation of endogenous substance P in brain tissues. The calpain inhibitor leupeptin and the enkephalinase inhibitors thiorphan and phosphoramidon increased markedly SPLI overflow, whereas the two ACE inhibitors, captopril and enalaprilat (up to 10 microM in the superfusing medium), were inactive. Surprisingly kelatorphan, which inhibits not only enkephalinase but also aminopeptidase and dipeptidylaminopeptidase activities, was less potent than thiorphan or phosphoramidon to enhance SPLI overflow. However, in the presence of ICI-154129 or naloxone to block opiate receptors, kelatorphan was as potent as thiorphan, therefore suggesting some negative influence of endogenous opioids on SPLI release with kelatorphan but not thiorphan. In agreement with this interpretation, the direct stimulation of delta opiate receptors by deltakephalin was found to significantly reduce SPLI overflow. Furthermore, an increased outflow of [Met]enkephalin-like material was observed from substantia nigra slices superfused with kelatorphan but not thiorphan. These results indicate that endogenous substance P released within the substantia nigra is very probably inactivated by enkephalinase and calpain, but not ACE. They also demonstrate that endogenous opioids can exert a negative control upon substance P release in this brain region.