-Endogenous nitric oxide donor compounds (S-nitrosothiols) contribute to low vascular tone by both cGMP-dependent and -independent pathways. We have reported that S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) inhibits 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-mediated pulmonary vasoconstriction via a cGMP-independent mechanism likely involving S-nitrosylation of its G proteincoupled receptor (GPCR) system. Because catecholamines, like 5-HT, constrict lung vessels via a GPCR coupled to G q, we hypothesized that S-nitrosothiols modify the ␣ 1-adrenergic GPCR system to inhibit pulmonary vasoconstriction by receptor agonists, e.g., phenylephrine (PE). Rat pulmonary artery rings were pretreated for 30 min with and without an S-nitrosothiol, either GSNO or S-nitrosocysteine (CSNO), and constricted with sequential concentrations of PE (10 Ϫ8 -10 Ϫ6 M). Effective cGMP-dependence was tested in rings pretreated with soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitors {either 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) or LY-83583} or G kinase inhibitor (KT-5823), and a thiol reductant [dithiothreitol (DTT)] was used to test reversibility of S-nitrosylation. Both S-nitrosothiols attenuated the PE dose response. The GSNO effect was not prevented by LY-83583, ODQ, or KT-5823, indicating cGMP independence. GSNO inhibition was reversed by DTT, consistent with S-nitrosylation or other GSNOmediated cysteine modifications. In CSNO-treated lung protein, the ␣ 1-adrenergic receptor was shown to undergo S-nitrosylation in vitro using a biotin switch assay. Studies of ␣1-adrenergic receptor subtype expression and receptor density by saturation binding with 125 I-HEAT showed that GSNO decreased ␣1-adrenergic receptor density but did not alter affinity for antagonist or agonist. These data demonstrate a novel cGMP-independent mechanism of reversible ␣1-adrenergic receptor inhibition by S-nitrosothiols. nitric oxide; S-nitrosylation; G protein-coupled receptor; guanosine 3Ј,5Ј-cyclic monophosphate THE LOW-RESISTANCE PULMONARY VASCULAR CIRCUIT is regulated by multiple neural, humoral, and endocrine factors among which the endothelium-derived relaxing factor, nitric oxide (NO), plays a fundamental role. NO bioactivity in the pulmonary circulation is present in the form of NO donor compounds (S-nitrosothiols) that maintain low vascular tone by both cGMP-dependent and -independent pathways (13). NO released from endothelial cells activates guanylate cyclase in vascular smooth muscle cells to increase cGMP levels, which in turn relaxes vascular smooth muscle. NO also exerts cGMPindependent effects on the smooth muscle including (but not limited to) stimulating Na ϩ -K ϩ -ATPase activity, modifying K ϩ and Ca 2ϩ channels, and decreasing the sensitivity to, or release of, vasoconstrictors (1,6,12,17,24).We previously demonstrated that pulmonary vasoconstriction elicited by serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is reversibly inhibited by the NO donor S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) (23). In addition, use of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors or removal of the endothelium to decrease NO...