Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is often followed by pulmonary hypertension, but the effects of extracorporeal circulation on vascular reactivity remain largely unknown. In this study, the influence of total CPB (t-CPB) on beta-adrenergic and cholinergic receptor-mediated pulmonary microvascular responses was examined. Sheep were placed on t-CPB without ventilation. After 90 min, sheep were separated from t-CPB and the lungs were perfused normally for 60 min. Pulmonary artery infusion of acetylcholine (muscarinic cholinergic agonist, ACh) increased pulmonary vascular resistance significantly more and isoproterenol (beta-adrenergic agonist, Iso) decreased pulmonary vascular resistance less after than before t-CPB. The response to sodium nitroprusside (SNP, guanylate cyclase activator) was similar before and after t-CPB. Relaxations (in vitro) of isolated pressurized (20 mmHg) microvessels to Iso and ACh were markedly reduced after t-CPB. Treatment with NPC-15669 (N-[9H-(2,7,-dimethylfluorenyl-9-methoxy)carbonyl]-L-leucine) did not affect these changes in vessel reactivity, although leukocyte sequestration in the lungs was reduced with the drug. The in vitro response to forskolin (adenylate cyclase activator) and SNP was similar before and after t-CPB. Complement-activated serum caused microvessels to contract in response to ACh, but it had no effect on Iso, forskolin, or SNP responses, suggesting that activation of the alternate complement pathway causes a selective reduction in endothelium-dependent relaxation. We conclude that t-CPB impairs cholinergic and beta-adrenergic pulmonary vascular responses due to effects at the level of the transmembrane receptor or coupling to the second messenger systems.