Dog hepatic arterial strips treated with prazosin responded to norepinephrine with concentration-related, endothelium-independent relaxations, the maximal response being 81.7% of the papaverine-induced maximal relaxation that was markedly greater than that in renal arteries. The norepinephrine-induced relaxation in hepatic arteries was significantly attenuated by metoprolol but not influenced by butoxamine. Relaxant responses to norepinephrine of dog hepatic arteries appear to be mediated by the beta1-adrenoceptor subtype, like those of coronary arteries. Evidence for functioning of the beta1-subtype in hepatic arteries would contribute to the analysis of neural and hormonal regulation of blood flow in the liver.