Forskolin, an activator of adenylate cyclase, inhibited contractures induced in rat aorta by norepinephrine (NE) and angiotensin II and by KCl depolarization. The concentration of forskolin required to inhibit NE-induced contractures was significantly lower than required to inhibit KCl-induced contractures (IC50 0.18 +/- 0.01 vs. 2.2 +/- 0.2 microM). Forskolin effectively relaxed NE-induced contractures when active Na+-K+ transport was inhibited. Stimulation of 42K and 36Cl effluxes by NE was inhibited by low concentrations of forskolin. The IC50 for forskolin inhibition of 42K efflux, 0.17 +/- 0.02 M, was similar to that for relaxation of NE contraction. The time course for forskolin-induced increases in adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) was consistent with that for forskolin-mediated relaxation and its maintenance. Fifty percent inhibition of both NE-induced contractures and NE-stimulated 42K effluxes occurred at levels of cAMP that were 1.4 times basal, and 90% inhibition of both processes was associated with a two to threefold increase in cAMP content. In sharp contrast, the level of tissue cAMP associated with inhibition of KCl contractures was 6-10 times higher than that associated with inhibition of NE-induced contractures. We postulate that cAMP-dependent regulation of membrane fluxes stimulated by receptor occupancy represents a primary mechanism for relaxation of a NE contracture, whereas the processes that regulate depolarization-dependent channels and the phosphorylation of myosin light chain kinase occur at much higher cAMP content and apparently function in a secondary capacity.