The effects of cinepazide, 1-[(l-pyrrolidinylcarbonyl)methyl]-4-(3,4,5-trimethox-ycinnamoyl)piperazine hydrogen maleate, were studied in isolated dog cerebral arteries. Cinepazide in concentrations ranging from 10–6 to 10–5M augmented the relaxing responses to ATP, adenosine and cAMP. However, this agent did not affect the relaxations induced by isoproterenol and papaverine and the contractions induced by 5-HT, prostaglandin F2α and ATP. In the basilar artery preloaded with 3H-norepinephrine or 3H-adenosine, electrical transmural stimulation resulted in a marked increase in 3H-efflux. This efflux accompanied an initial transient contraction followed by a relaxation. Cinepazide slightly reduced the 3H-efflux evoked by electrical stimulation. However, the relaxing response was mostly augmented by the treatment with cinepazide. The relaxing responses to ATP, adenosine, cAMP and electrical transmural stimulation were attenuated by theophylline. These results suggest that cinepazide selectively potentiates the relaxing response mediated through purinergic P1 recep