Adrenergic innervation in the main trunk of the mesenteric artery was studied in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) as well as in a new strain of SHRSP (M-SHRSP) and was compared with that of normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY). Noradrenaline (NA) content and high K-induced NA release in the artery of 6-week-old SHRSP and M-SHRSP were greater than those in the artery of WKY. These results suggest that a higher adrenergic innervation of the artery might be involved in the development of hypertension in SHRSP and M-SHRSP.