In order to assess the physiological balance existing between vasoconstrictor and vasodilator endothelin-B receptor actions associated with their dual locations (i.e. on vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells), we investigated the effects of selective and non-selective endothelin receptor antagonists on endothelin-1-induced increase in blood pressure. Atrasentan (a selective endothelin-A receptor antagonist; 6 mg/kg) and A-192621 (a selective endothelin-B receptor antagonist; 0.03, 0.3, or 30 mg/kg) were administered intravenously to anaesthetized Syrian Golden hamsters, alone or in combination, to induce respectively selective or non-selective receptor antagonism. Atrasentan partially blocked the blood pressure response induced by endothelin-1 (0.5 nmol/kg), whereas a selective endothelin-B receptor antagonism potentiated this response, independently of the dose of A-192621. Interestingly, combination of the very low dose of A-192621 (which selectively blocked putatively endothelium-located endothelin-B receptors) with atrasentan, suppressed the protective effect previously observed with atrasentan alone. Nevertheless, combination of atrasentan with the two highest doses of A-192621 tested, dose-dependently reduced the response triggered by endothelin-1. Our results suggest that endothelial endothelin-B receptors are important to control the vascular reactivity to endothelin-1. Furthermore, our data suggest that the efficacy of a non-selective endothelin-A/ endothelin-B receptor antagonist relies upon its potency to block endothelin-B receptors in the hamster.