Peroxynitrite is produced by vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells in response to inflammation, induces vascular relaxation, and alters vascular responses to endothelial-derived relaxing factors. The present study examined the changes in mean arterial pressure and hindquarter, renal, and mesenteric vascular resistances produced by the systemic administration of (i) the catecholamines epinephrine or norepinephrine, (ii) the alpha1-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine, (iii) the beta-adrenoceptor agonist isoproterenol or (iv) [Arg delta] vasopressin in pentobarbital-anesthetized rats prior to and following the systemic administration of peroxynitrite. The systemic administration of peroxynitrite significantly inhibited (i) epinephrine-induced pressor and renal and mesenteric vasoconstrictor responses, (ii) norepinephrine-induced pressor and hindquarter, renal, and mesenteric vasoconstrictor responses, (iii) phenylephrine-induced hindquarter and mesenteric vasoconstrictor responses, and (iv) isoproterenol-induced depressor and hindquarter and renal vasodilator responses. In comparison, the systemic administration of peroxynitrite had no effect on arginine vasopressin-induced pressor or vasoconstrictor responses. These results demonstrate selective and consequential attenuation of the hemodynamic effects produced by alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor agonists, suggesting that selective impairment of adrenoceptors by peroxynitrite may play a critical role in the hemodynamic dysfunction associated with inflammatory conditions.