1. KCl-induced contractions in aortic rings of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and two normotensive strains, Sprague-Dawley (SD) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats, were studied. 2. The contraction elicited by isotonic Na-free, KCl solution containing 2.5 mmol/L Ca and 1 mmol/L Mg was concentration-dependently inhibited by Na and K. Maximal inhibition was induced by 20 mmol/L NaCl in WKY and SHR (65 and 85%, respectively) and by 60 mmol/L NaCl in SD (50%). KCl (10-40 mmol/L) had no effect on SD but produced almost full relaxation in WKY and about 50% relaxation in SHR. 3. Isotonic Ca-free, Na-free high Mg (2 mmol/L), K-solution caused strong phasic contractions in WKY and SHR, but weak responses in SD. 4. Aortic rings of SD, WKY and SHR developed strong, sustained and reproducible contractions in isotonic Ca-free, Na-free, K-solution containing EDTA, which were fully relaxed by 1.2, 1.6 and 8 mmol/L Na, respectively. 5. We suggest that the primary mechanism of KCl-contraction is potential-independent competition between monovalent and divalent cations for binding sites on both surfaces of the plasma membrane (e.g. K with Mg and Na with Ca) and that differences in aortic contractility in SHR, WKY and SD merely reflect strain differences in the composition of the ionic matrix, independent of hypertension.