In isolated rabbit right atria, endothelin (ET) isopeptides ET-1 and ET-3 elicited a concentration-dependent negative chronotropic effect (NCE) in the presence of isoproterenol (Iso): ET-1 was approximately 10 times more potent than ET-3. The NCE of ET-1 was abolished by the ETA- and ETB-receptor antagonist TAK-044 (1 microM) or the ETA-receptor antagonist BQ-123 (10 microM), but it was not affected by the ETB-receptor antagonist RES-701-1 or BQ-788. ET-1 decreased the adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) level in the presence of Iso in rabbit atria. Pretreatment with pertussis toxin (PTX) markedly attenuated the NCE of ET-1 and abolished the decrease in the cAMP level induced by ET-1. In isolated dog ventricular trabeculae, ET-1 elicited a pronounced negative inotropic effect (NIE), whereas ET-3 induced a small but significant positive inotropic effect in the presence of Iso. The NIE was abolished by the ETA-receptor antagonist BQ-123 (1 microM) and partially attenuated by the ETB-receptor antagonist RES-701-1. The positive inotropic effect of ET-3 was abolished by RES-701-1. Although pretreatment with PTX markedly attenuated the NIE of ET-1, cAMP levels in dog ventricular muscle were not decreased by ET-1. These results indicate that activation of an ETA receptor that is coupled to the PTX-sensitive G protein plays a dominant role in the NCE and NIE of ET-1. The NCE of ET-1 may, in part, be due to a decrease in cAMP level. By contrast, the NIE of ET-1 does not involve an alteration of cAMP accumulation. The present findings imply that ET isopeptides might antagonize the cardiostimulatory action of catecholamines mediated by beta-adrenoceptors when the blood level of both endogenous regulators are increased under cardiovascular pathophysiological situations.