1 In this study we have characterized the receptor(s) in the rat mesenteric artery mediating relaxant responses to adenosine and a number of adenosine analogues, N 6 -R-phenylisopropyladenosine (R-PIA), N 6 -cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) . We have also studied the e ects of endothelial removal and uptake inhibition by nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBTI) and the e ects of the A 3 receptor antagonist 1,3-dipropyl-8-(4-acrylate)phenylxanthine (BWA1433). 2 Adenosine, NECA, CPA and R-PIA all elicited relaxant responses in tissues precontracted with phenylephrine (1 mM) with the following potency order: NECA4R-PIA4adenosine=CPA. However, E/[A] curves to NECA were biphasic. CGS 21680 was inactive at concentrations up to 30 mM and IB-MECA elicited relaxant responses which were resistant to blockade by 8-SPT and BWA1433 (100 mM). 3 Removal of the endothelium produced a small but signi®cant decrease in the asymptote of the high potency phase of E/[A] curves to NECA with no change in p[A] 50 . E/[A] curves to adenosine were not altered by removal of the endothelium. However, there were small rightward shifts of E/[A] curves to CPA and R-PIA in the absence of endothelium. 4 Inhibition of uptake by NBTI (1 mM) had no e ect on E/[A] curves to NECA, CPA or R-PIA, but E/[A] curves to adenosine were signi®cantly left-shifted in the presence of NBTI. 5 8-SPT (10 ± 100 mM) caused signi®cant rightward shifts of the high potency phase of the E/[A] curves to NECA (pA 2 =5.63+0.26). The second phase of the concentration-response curve to NECA appeared to be resistant to blockade by 8-SPT, as were E/[A] curves for adenosine, CPA or R-PIA. However, in the presence of NBTI (1 mM), 8-SPT (100 mM) gave signi®cant rightward shifts of E/[A] curves to adenosine. 6 ZM 241385 (0.1 ± 1 mM) produced signi®cant rightward shifts of the high potency phase of NECA E/[A] curves (pA 2 =7.65+0.25 in the presence and 7.20+0.12 in the absence of endothelium), while curves to R-PIA were not signi®cantly shifted by 1 mM ZM 241385. In the presence of NBTI E/[A] curves to adenosine were signi®cantly rightward shifted by ZM 241385 (0.1 mM, pA 2 =7.50+0.16). 7 In conclusion, the results suggest activation of A 2B receptors located primarily on the smooth muscle by low concentrations of NECA and by adenosine under conditions of uptake blockade, and of another, as yet unde®ned site which may be intracellular, by higher concentrations of NECA, by CPA, R-PIA and adenosine under conditions where uptake is operational.,