The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether muscarinic receptors are selectively coupled to the pool of adenylyl cyclase that is responsible for the elevation of particulate (membrane-bound) adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP), because this appears to lead to translocation of particulate cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) to the soluble fraction and the positive inotropic response. Perfusion of hearts with carbachol and isoproterenol concurrently for 1.5 min prevented the increase in left ventricular pressure (LVP) found with isoproterenol alone, although isoproterenol-induced changes in total and particulate cAMP levels and soluble and particulate PKA activity were unaffected. However, perfusion of hearts with carbachol for 1 min then with isoproterenol and carbachol for 1.5 min abolished the isoproterenol-induced increase in LVP and in total and particulate cAMP levels, although changes in total and particulate PKA activity were only partially attenuated. Perfusion of hearts with carbachol for 1 min then carbachol plus forskolin for 2 or 5 min also completely prevented the forskolin-induced increase in LVP without affecting the changes in either total or particulate cAMP levels or soluble or particulate PKA activity produced by this agent. Therefore, muscarinic receptors do not appear to selectively couple to the pool of adenylyl cyclase responsible for elevation of particulate cAMP levels. These data provide further evidence that antagonism of adenylyl cyclase activity is not required for the inhibition by carbachol of positive inotropic responses of ventricular muscle to cAMP generating agents.