In arteries, analogues of L-arginine inhibit the synthesis of nitric oxide and thereby reduce endothelium-dependent relaxations. Experiments were designed to determine whether analogues of L-arginine affect endothelium-dependent responses in a systemic vein. Rings cut from canine femoral arteries and veins were suspended for the measurement of isometric force in organ chambers. In some rings, the endothelium was deliberately removed. All experiments were conducted in the presence of indomethacin (10(-5) M). NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA, 10(-4) M) reduced significantly endothelium-dependent relaxations to acetylcholine, ADP, and thrombin in arteries but not in veins. In the veins, the alpha 2-adrenergic agonist BHT-920 caused contractions which were reduced in rings with endothelium. L-NMMA eliminated the difference in contraction between rings with and without endothelium in the veins. This effect was reversed by L- but not D-arginine (3 x 10(-4) M). N omega-nitro-L-arginine (10(-4) M) reduced endothelium-dependent relaxations to acetylcholine, thrombin, and the calcium ionophore A23187 in venous rings. However, it did not alter the contractions to BHT-920 in rings with or without endothelium. L-Canavanine did not alter endothelium-dependent relaxations in the veins. These results suggest that synthesis of nitric oxide is associated with stimulation of alpha 2-adrenergic, muscarinic, and thrombin receptors on venous endothelial cells. Furthermore, the analogues of L-arginine affect endothelium-dependent relaxations in canine veins differentially.