The development of beta-adrenoreceptor density and beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoreceptor distribution has been investigated in heart, kidney and lung of spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and normotensive (WKY) rats by (-)125I-iodocyanopinolol binding at the age of 5-6, 9-10 and 19-21 weeks. At all ages beta-adrenoreceptor density was similar in hearts of both strains, while it was increased in kidney and lung of SHR compared to WKY. The beta 2-adrenoreceptor density was higher in all three tissues of SHR at all ages investigated. On the other hand, beta 1-adrenoreceptor density was decreased in heart, unchanged in lung and increased in kidney of SHR compared to WKY. Destruction of presynaptic nerve terminals by treatment of WKY with 6-hydroxydopamine produced a 24% loss of cardiac beta 2-adrenoreceptors, whereas the beta 1-adrenoreceptor density remained unchanged, suggesting that at least part of the cardiac beta 2-adrenoreceptor population is localized prejunctionally. It is suggested that beta 2-adrenoreceptors are involved in the development or maintenance of high blood pressure in SHR, possibly by facilitating noradrenaline release.