The effect of intrathecal injection of dynorphin A (1-17) on second messenger systems of spinal cord relative to behavioral change in rats was studied. Dynorphin A (1-17) 5, 10 (20 nmol) caused dose-dependent flaccid paralysis of hindlimbs. Dynorphin A (1-17) 10, 20 nmol dose-dependently decreased spinal adenylate cyclase (AC) activity, cyclic AMP production, calmodulin (CaM) level and cyclic-nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity 10 min after intrathecal injection. They recovered to a varying extent two hours later. Pretreatment with selective kappa-opioid receptor antagonist nor-BNI 30 nmol 10 min before dynorphin A (1-17) markedly antagonized the effects of dynorphin A (1-17) at 20 nmol on hindlimb paralysis and inhibition of intracellular second messengers. The L-type calcium channel blocker verapamil (100 nmol) also played a role in blocking dynorphin neurotoxicity. The NMDA receptor antagonist APV could partially or completely block dynorphin inhibition of CaM level and PDE activity without affecting paralysis and decrease of AC-cAMP level induced by dynorphin A (1-17) 10 min after intrathecal injection.