The distribution of the alpha 1-adrenoceptor (alpha 1-AR) subtypes and the effects of activation of alpha 1-AR subtypes on the beta-adrenoceptor (beta-AR) mediated positive inotropic response were investigated. The radioligand binding assays indicated that the Bmax and Kd values were 11.7 +/- 18 fmol/mg.protein and 86.0 +/- 9.6 pmol/L respectively. Pretreatment of the preparations with 20 mumol/L chloroethylclonidine (CEC) which inactivated alpha 1B subtype, decreased the Bmax to 45.7 +/- 5.2 fmol/mg.protein (P < 0.01). The inhibition curves of 5-methyl-urapidil were best fitted to two site model and indicated that alpha 1A subtype took 28.5% of total 125IBE specific binding sites. In the functional experiments, norepinephrine (NE) induced a positive inotropic response in a concentration dependent manner by activation of both beta- and alpha 1-AR. The concentration-response curves (CRC) for NE were shifted rightward after the pretreatment of the preparations with 20 mumol/L CEC, but leftward in the presence of 1 nmol/L WB4101. In the presence of 10 mumol/L phentolamine which inactivated both alpha 1-AR subtypes, the CRC for NE were shifted leftward. When alpha 1-AR was activated by phenylephrine the CRC for isoproterenol (selective beta-AR agonist) were shifted rightward. The results suggested that the alpha 1B subtype enhanced while the alpha 1A subtype inhibited the beta-AR mediated positive inotropic response. When both alpha 1A and alpha 1B subtypes were activated simultaneously the alpha 1A subtype showed a dominate role.