The effects of intraventricular injection and epicardial application of adenosine on spontaneous electrical activity of nucleus paragigantocellularis lateralis (PGL) neurons in rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) were examined in 35 anesthetized rats with sinoaortic denervation and vagotomy. The results obtained were as follows: (1) The spontaneous discharge of 121 PGL neurons (mean discharge rate: 22.5 +/- 1.9 spikes/s) were recorded in 35 rats. (2) In response to intraventricular injection of adenosine (0.5 mumol/kg), mean arterial pressure (MAP) was initially increased by 1.7 +/- 0.2 kPa(P < 0.001) and subsequently decreased by 4.6 +/- 0.5 kPa(P < 0.001), while the heart rate (HR) was decreased by 126.5 +/- 12.3 bpm (P < 0.001). Of 35 PGL spontaneous discharge units responsive to intraventricular injection of adenosine, 30 showed an average increase from 21.9 +/- 2.6 to 29.2 +/- 3.4 spikes/s (P < 0.001), 3 with no change, while 2 with a decrease. (3) Following epicardial application of 20 mmol/L adenosine, the BP and HR were not significantly changed, while the spontaneous discharge of 22 PGL neurons were increased from 18.8 +/- 1.9 to 26.9 +/- 2.8 spikes/s (P < 0.001), and that of 3 neurons was not changed. (4) The excitatory response of PGL neurons to intraventricular injection or epicardial application of adenosine was completely inhibited by pretreatment with selective adenosine A1-receptor antagonist 8-cyclopentyl-1, 3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX, 500 micrograms/kg). (5) Following epicardial application of phenol or bilateral stellate ganglionectomy, adenosine failed to affect the activity of PGL neurons. The results obtained indicate that adenosine may stimulate cardiac sympathetic afferents through adenosine A1-receptor, thereby resulting in the activation of PGL neurons.