This study was concerned with the role of cyclic nucleotides in the post-junctional vasodilatation mechanism. Interventions with second messenger systems involving cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cyclic AMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cyclic GMP), allowed the role of these nucleotides in vascular smooth muscle to be evaluated in the autoperfused, transparent frog muscle, m. cutaneous pectoris. The microcirculation was observed by intravital microscopy, and arteriolar diameters were continuously recorded. Pre- and post-junctional effects were distinguished by comparing results in control frogs with those obtained in frogs that had been chemically sympathectomized with either 6-hydroxydopamine or tetrodotoxin. Arterioles that were pre-contracted with adrenaline dilated in response to topical application of forskolin or sodium nitroprusside, which are direct activators of intracellular adenylate cyclase and guanylate cyclase, respectively. Arterioles were also dilated by 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), which is a non-selective inhibitor of cyclic AMP- and cyclic GMP-phosphodiesterase, and by rolipram, which is a selective inhibitor of the calcium-independent cyclic AMP-phosphodiesterase. Dibutyryl-cyclic AMP and dibutyryl-cyclic GMP also caused vasodilatation. These results indicate that in vascular smooth muscle, intracellular mechanisms involving cyclic nucleotides (cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP) are important in vasodilatation. They may act in conjunction with pre-junctional inhibitory mechanisms on sympathetic nerves.