Evidence suggests that in some species (cats, rabbits, and possibly humans) ␣-adrenoceptors in the iris dilator muscle are "atypical" in that they cannot be readily classified by conventional criteria. This study was undertaken in an attempt to characterize the ␣-adrenoceptor subtype(s) mediating sympathetically elicited mydriasis in rats. Frequency-response pupillary dilator curves were generated by stimulation of the preganglionic cervical sympathetic nerve (1-32 Hz) in pentobarbital-anesthetized rats. Evoked responses were inhibited by systemic administration of nonselective ␣-adrenergic antagonists, phentolamine (0.3-10 mg/ kg) and phenoxybenzamine (0.03-1 mg/kg). The selective ␣ 1 -adrenergic antagonist, prazosin (0.01-1 mg/kg), also was effective, although ␣ 2 -adrenergic antagonism with rauwolscine (0.1-1 mg/kg) was not. ␣ 1A -Adrenoceptor-selective antagonists, 2-([2,6-dimethoxyphenoxyethyl]aminomethyl)-1,4-benzodioxane (WB-4101; 0.1-1 mg/kg) and 5-methylurapidil (0.1-1 mg/kg), as well as the ␣ 1D -adrenoceptor-selective antagonist 8-[2-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethyl]-8-azaspiro[4.5]decane-7,9-dione (BMY-7378; 1-3 mg/kg), were used to determine the subtype(s) involved. Evoked mydriasis was significantly antagonized by both WB-4101 and 5-methylurapidil but not by BMY-7378. These results suggest that, unlike some other species, adrenoceptors in the rat iris dilator mediating neurogenic mydriasis are "typical" and, in addition, can be characterized as being primarily of the ␣ 1A -adrenoceptor subtype.