The behavioural mechanisms underlying the effects of the opioid antagonist naloxone (0.3-3 mg/kg i.p.), and the opioid agonists morphine (0.3-3 mg/kg s.c.), and U-50, 488H (0.3-3 mg/kg s.c.) on ingestive behaviour were investigated using a microstructural analysis of licking patterns for sucrose solutions and Intralipid (fat emulsions) in a brief contact test. Naloxone dose-dependently decreased the total number of licks and the number of bouts for sucrose and Intralipid, but did not affect mean bout duration. Morphine dose-dependently increased the total number of licks and the number of bouts for both test fluids. For Intralipid but not for sucrose drinking, morphine actually decreased mean bout duration. U-50, 488H significantly affected total licks, although the dose-effect relationship showed an inverted U-shaped function. There was a dose-dependent increase in mean bout duration following administration of U-50, 488H and an increase in bout number, although only the lowest dose differed significantly from the control condition. The results show that microstructural analysis can distinguish between the effects of naloxone, morphine and U-50, 488H on licking behaviour and indicate that selective opioid receptor subtypes may be differentially involved in ingestive processes.