Effects of a beta-agonist (isoproterenol) and beta-antagonists (propranolol and pindolol) on hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) and on changes in some chemical mediators were compared between HPV-responsive lobes and non-responsive lobes in which HPV was induced by aspirin DL-lysine (ASA groups). Hypoxic ventilation (4 min) was repeated in 56 of isolated, blood-perfused dog lung lobes. Each drug was administrated in a bolus dose of 0.2 mg in the intermittent period between hypoxia. In HPV-responsive lobes, the first hypoxia increased pulmonary vascular resistance by 33% or more in all groups. Both isoproterenol and pindolol inhibited the elicitation of HPV completely, but propranolol induced almost the same degree of HPV as control. In ASA groups, HPV was completely inhibited by isoproterenol, but was not influenced by propranolol. However, pindolol's inhibitory effect on HPV was less than that in HPV-responsive lobes. Isoproterenol significantly increased cyclic AMP from 17.0 to 76.7 pmol/ml in HPV-responsive lobes (n = 7). Pindolol increased prostaglandin E2 from 87.0 to 1015.4 pg/ml in HPV-responsive lobes (n = 7), and from 93.4 to 361.3 pg/ml when ASA was treated. Propranolol did not show the different results from the control group whether ASA was present or not. The different mechanisms among beta-adrenoceptor-related agents in HPV and pulmonary circulation were investigated.