Abstract. Catecholamines were found to activate Na/H exchange in a concentration-dependent manner in primary cultures of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). The potency order was found to be epinephrine > norepinephrine > isoproterenol. The major pathway for catecholamine effects appeared to be via interaction with an alpha~ adrenergic receptor. In addition, it was found that alpha1 receptor-mediated Na/H exchange in VSMC was increased by angiotensin II and inhibited by 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-D-acetate (TPA).Adrenergic receptors have been shown to be coupled to both adenylate cyclase and to inositol phosphate release (Leeb-Lundberg, L. M. E, S. Cotecchia, J. W. Lomasney, J. E DeBernadis, R. J. Lefkowitz, and M. G. Caron, 1985, Proc. Natl. Acad. $ci. USA, 82:5651-5655.). It was found that catecholamines increased AMP levels in the potency order isoproterenol > norepinephrine > epinephrine and the receptor involved was a beta adrenergic receptor. Since these findings did not parallel the results obtained for catecholamine stimulation of Na/H exchange, an increase in AMP levels was probably not the mechanism by which major pathway for catecholamine-stimulated Na/H exchange in VSMC (via the alpha] receptor) was activated. When the effects of catecholamines were measured on inositol phosphate release, the potency order for catecholamine stimulation was epinephrine > norepinephrine > isoproterenol, and the receptor involved was an alpha~ adrenergic receptor. In addition, angiotensin II increased and TPA inhibited catecholamine-stimulated inositol phosphate release. Since these findings paralleled the results obtained for catecholamine stimulation of Na/H exchange, inositol phosphate release may be the mechanism by which the major pathway for catecholamine-stimulated Na/H exchange in VSMC (via the alphal receptor) was activated.