Caveolae are membrane domains that have been implicated in signal transduction, and caveolins are major structural components of these domains. We found that all reported caveolin isoforms (caveolin-1, -2, and -3) were expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs); however, only caveolin-1 mRNA was regulated by angiotensin II (Ang II). Ang II (100 nmol/L) increased caveolin-1 mRNA, with a peak at 2 hours (193+/-6% of control, P<0.01, n=4). In contrast, Ang II significantly decreased caveolin-1 protein, with a nadir at 4 hours (64+/-5% of control, P<0.01, n=6). [35S]Methionine labeling showed that Ang II increased caveolin biosynthesis (226+/-33% of control labeling at 4 hours), suggesting that the transient decrease in caveolin protein levels is due to increased degradation. When cells were fractionated with sucrose, on agonist stimulation, AT1 receptors appeared in fraction 5 where caveolin was fractionated. This migration was blocked by low temperature and treatment with phenylarsine oxide, interventions that interfere with agonist-induced Ang II type 1 (AT1) receptor sequestration and tonic phase signaling. In addition, caveolin-1 coimmunoprecipitates with AT1 receptor only on agonist stimulation. These data support the concept that the caveola is a specialized signaling domain in VSMCs that can be dynamically accessed by the AT1 receptor. Because of the signaling and coupling proteins that are localized in caveolae and because of evidence that these proteins may interact directly with caveolin, caveola-AT1 receptor interaction likely represents an important focus for dynamic control of receptor signaling in VSMCs.