beta-Adrenoceptor subtypes which mediate relaxation of guinea-pig gastrointestinal smooth muscles in response to catecholamines ((-)-isoprenaline, (-)-noradrenaline and (-)-adrenaline) and beta 3-adrenoceptor agonists (BRL37344 and (+/-)-CGP12177A) are predominantly beta 3-adrenoceptors. Although cAMP-PKA system is thought to play a substantial role in the smooth muscle relaxation mediated via beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors, there is little information on the role of cAMP in beta 3-adrenoceptor-meidated relaxation. The present study was carried out to elucidate the role of cAMP in beta 3-adrenoceptor-meidated relaxation of guinea-pig gastric fundus smooth muscle. Furthermore, possible contribution of two types of K+ (voltage-dependent and Ca(2+)-activated K+, BKCa; voltage-dependent, Kv) channels was also examined pharmaco-mechanically. In gastric fundus smooth muscle, catecholamines and beta 3-adrenoceptor agonists elicited potent relaxations in the presence of beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptor antagonists. All of these relaxations were not diminished by an adenylate cyclase inhibitor, SQ-22,536 (100 microM), which indicates their characteristic of cAMP-independency. SQ-22,536-resistant, beta 3-adrenoceptor-mediated relaxations were strongly attenuated by a Kv channel blocker, 4-aminopyridine (3 mM), but not by iberiotoxin (100 nM), a selective blocker of BKCa channel. The present results indicate that 4-aminopyridine-sensitive Kv channels play a primary role in cAMP-independent relaxation of guinea-pig gastric fundus smooth muscle in response to the stimulations of beta 3-adrenoceptors.