The two-microelectrode voltage-clamp technique was used to monitor K+ channel activity in Xenopus oocyte follicular cells, which are electrically coupled to the oocyte itself by gap junctions. Endogenous vasodilators such as calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and adenosine activate glibenclamide-ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channels in Xenopus oocyte follicular cells. The mechanism of action of CGRP was studied in detail. CGRP effects undergo a rapid desensitization. CGRP acts via CGRPI receptors. Its effects are antagonised by the amino-truncated CGRP analog hCGRP(8-37). The second messenger for CGRP activation of KATP channels is cAMP. Phosphodiesterase inhibition by 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine enhances the CGRP response while adenyl cyclase inhibition by either 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine or progesterone nearly completely depresses the CGRP response. Vasoconstrictors such as ACh and angiotensin II also have receptors in follicular cells. ACh strongly inhibits the CGRP activation of K+ channels as it inhibits the activation of KATP channels by P1060, but angiotensin II does not. It is concluded that as in vascular smooth muscle cells, CGRP and probably other hyperpolarizing vasodilators open KATP channels in follicular cells by protein kinase A activation.