Substance P (SP), some of its C-terminal fragments and some of its homologues (physalaemin and eledoisin) are hypotensive in rats anaesthetised with urethane, vasodilators in isolated rabbit hearts, inhibitors of noradrenaline-induced contractions of the dog carotid artery and stimulants of contractions of the rabbit mesenteric vein, the guinea pig ileum and the rat colon. The effects of these peptides appear to be due to a direct action, mediated by specific receptors, in 4 of the 6 preparations, while the stimulation of the guinea pig ileum may depend in part on the release of intramural acetylcholine, because it is partially antagonised by atropine, and catecholamines appear to interfere with the contractile response of the rat colon to SP, since this response is potentiated by propranolol. SP, its C-terminal fragments, physalaemin and eledoisin appear to activate the same receptors systems in 4 of the 5 preparations in which desensitisation experiments could be performed (namely the rat blood pressure, the isolated rabbit heart, the rabbit mesenteric vein and the guinea pig ileum). In the dog carotid artery, there was no cross-desensitisation between SP and eledoisin but only between SP, its C-terminal fragments and physalaemin. The rat colon could not be desensitised.