Vaccination of children with Diphtheria, Tetanus, Poliomyelitis and pertussis vaccine (DTPoP-vaccine) containing the whole-cell pertussis component is known to be associated with manifestation of side-effects such as acute encephalopathy, convulsions and hypotensive-hyporesponsive episodes. In young and adult rats the effects of pertussis toxin and DTPoP-vaccine on haemodynamics and autonomic responsiveness are evaluated following treatment with high dose via different routes of administration (s.c., i.p. and i.v.). The effect of pertussis toxin is dose-dependent (between 1 and 20 micrograms kg-1) and largest responses are observed after i.v. administration. At 20 micrograms kg-1, i.v. pertussis toxin decreases baseline diastolic blood pressure and increases baseline heart rate by 31% and inhibits autonomic responsiveness (salbutamol-induced increase in diastolic blood pressure and arecoline-induced decrease in heart rate). In adult rats DTPoP-vaccine induces generally more prominent effects than in young rats. In adult rats DTPoP-vaccine reduces baseline diastolic blood pressure by 25% while no response is observed in young rats. In adult rats DTPoP inhibits the adrenergic response though less compared to treatment of pertussis toxin. After treatment with DTPoP-vaccine (single or twice) only minor differences are observed between young and adult rats. Present results show that adult rats are more sensitive to pertussis toxin and pertussis vaccine than young rats and that the responses depend on the route of administration.