The inhibitory effects of mibefradil (1.0 nM-1.0 microM), a putative selective inhibitor of T-type Ca2+ channels that has peripheral and coronary vasodilating properties with few negative inotropic effects, on pressure-induced vasoconstrictions were compared to depolarization- and [Arg8] vasopressin-induced tone in isolated middle cerebral arteries of the rat. The concentration-response relationships (IC50) for myogenic tone (70 +/- 20 nM), depolarization- (53 +/- 9 nM) and vasopressin-induced tone (70 +/- 10 nM) were equally inhibited by mibefradil. Pressure-induced responses were consistently inhibited by mibefradil throughout the myogenically active pressure range (20-100 mmHg). These results demonstrate that mibefradil is nonselective in inhibiting Ca2+ dependent cerebral artery tone due to myogenic activation, depolarization or receptor activation.