Time-course effects on changes in heart rate (ΔHR) following bilateral SN microinjection of vehicle (aCSF +10% DMSO, n=7 – 14), A [Sar9,Met(O2)11]SP (100 pmol, n=7), B [β-Ala8]NKA (4 – 10) (100 pmol, n=14) and C senktide (100 pmol, n=7) in the absence or presence of atenolol (5 mg kg−1, i.v.) or a combination of atenolol (5 mg kg−1, i.v.) and atropine (1 mg kg−1, i.v.) in conscious rats. Each point represents the mean±s.e.mean of (n) rats. Statistical comparison was made to vehicle values (*P<0.05) or to the agonist alone (†P<0.05) (two-way ANOVA followed by a test of Bonferroni).