This study investigated the responses of regenerating arterioles in grafted skeletal muscle to the endothelium-dependent dilator acetylcholine (ACh); the substrate for endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF), L-arginine (L-Arg); and sodium nitroprusside (SNP). Additionally, responses of graft arterioles to the endothelium-independent substances adenosine (Ado) and norepinephrine (NE) were measured. The retractor muscle of hamsters was removed, placed in a myotoxic solution, and grafted into its original site. The graft revascularized spontaneously by sprouting of vessels in surrounding tissue. Quantification of changes in arteriolar luminal diameter was accomplished using in vivo video microscopy at 30, 45, and 60 days postgrafting. In 30-day grafts, there was little or no response to topically applied ACh or L-Arg. By 45 days, arteriole response to 10(-6), 10(-5), and 10(-4) M ACh and 10(-4) L-Arg was 0, 4, 20, and 17% of the control response, respectively. SNP (10(-6)-10(-4) M) produced approximately 50% of the control response at both 30 and 45 days. By 60 days the response of graft arterioles to ACh, L-Arg, and SNP was not different from controls. Arteriolar response in 30-day grafts to Ado (10(-6)-10(-4) M) was significantly attenuated, but was not different from control by 45 days. Responsiveness of arterioles to NE had recovered to control levels by 30 days postgrafting. These data indicate that the restoration of endothelium-dependent regulation of arteriolar dilation lags behind endothelium-independent, receptor-mediated mechanisms. The diminished response of regenerating arterioles may be related to dysfunctions in both the synthetic pathway for EDRF and the guanylate cyclase/cGMP mechanism for vascular smooth muscle cell relaxation and/or flow-dependent mechanisms of blood flow regulation.