The effects of propranolol, given by direct intraarterial injection, on the reflex vasodilatation induced in the atropinized isolated gracilis muscle by rapid intravenous administration of norepinephrine, were studied in dogs. In these studies, both atropine and atropine plus propranolol did not significantly alter the maximum fall in vascular resistance in the perfused gracilis muscle following intravenous norepinephrine; however, if the reflex responses were evaluated as integrated areas of vasodilatation, atropine attenuated the vasodilatation and the administration of propranolol further attenuated the reflex. In fact, the value of the integrated areas of vasodilatation was 52.8 +/- 9 mmHg/min in the basal state, 39 +/- 6 mmHg/min after administration of atropine, and 24 +/- 7 mmHg/min after propranolol, whereas the integrated areas of the systemic hypertension did not show any modification. These results prompt us to conclude that the adrenergic beta receptors participate in the reflex vasodilatation, although the mechanism of their action needs further elucidation.