Vasoconstrictions induced by periarterial electrical stimulation were analysed pharmacologically in the canine isolated perfused splenic artery. Phentolamine enhanced the vasoconstrictions at 1 Hz but inhibited those at 10 Hz. Suramin and P 2 x purinoceptor desensitization with α,β-methylene ATP abolished the phentolamine-enhanced and -resistant vasoconstrictions. α,β-Methylene ATP inhibited the vasoconstrictions at 1 Hz and by exogenous ATP but did not change those at 10 Hz and by exogenous noradrenaline. Suramin reduced the vasoconstrictions by the electrical stimulations and α,β-methylene ATP but did not affect those by exogenous ATP. Prazosin did not affect the vasoconstrictions at 1 Hz but inhibited those at 10 Hz. Rauwolscine enhanced the prazosin-resistant vasoconstrictions. These results suggest that the electrical stimulation at 1 Hz releases purinergic transmitters (ATP or a closely related compound) as a dominant candidate for the vasoconstrictions, and a co-released noradrenaline may inhibit the release of purinergic transmitters through presynaptic α 2 -adrenoceptors in the canine splenic artery.