Repeated acquisition behavioral performances of normotensive and renovascular hypertensive baboons were tested before, during, and following chronic oral dosing with the beta-adrenergic antagonists atenolol HCl (2.6 mg/kg/day PO), and d,l propranolol HCl (6.8 mg/kg twice daily PO) in separate studies. Each study administered active drug for 21 consecutive days preceded and followed by 14-day baseline and recovery periods, respectively. Animals pressed five keys in sequence for food reinforcement during daily experimental sessions which consisted of alternating acquisition (new sequence learning) and performance (previously learned) task components. Atenolol increased response latencies during acquisition in comparison to performance components, and during early portions of sessions. Propranolol also increased response latencies during acquisition components in early periods of sessions, but fewer dependent measures were affected, and the magnitude of increases in response latencies was smaller (12% +/- 5 SEM) as compared with atenolol (47% +/- 13). Test doses of phencyclidine HCl (PCP) increased latencies to the same degree as atenolol. PCP markedly reduced accuracy, while atenolol or propranolol did not. Blood pressures remained stable under atenolol, and decreased by approximately 10-15 mmHg under propranolol. No differences between renovascular hypertensive and normotensive baboons were found as a function of drug conditions. Drug effects were not dependent on plasma propranolol concentration.