Recently several reports have claimed that the bath temperature changes, such as lower bath temperature, produce supersensitivity on the positive chronotropic effect of catecholamine in cat, mouse and guinea pig atria. However, others showed controversial results against temperature-dependent supersensitivity. Similarly, the inotropic effect of ouabain is diminished in febrile state, however some investigators indicated that cardiac glycoside showed less toxicities and less effects in hypothermic condition. In this study, the effects of norepinephrine and epinephrine on inotropy and chronotropy in isolated rat atria was investigated by changing the temperature of bath (30˚C, 35˚C and 38˚C). In addition, the effects of ouabain on atria in hypothermic bath was also studied. The followings are the results. 1. At the lower bath temperature isolated rat atrial rate was decreased and contractility was increased. 2. The chronotropic responses to norepinephrine and epinephrine in 38˚C were decreased when the bath temperature lowered to 35˚C or 30˚C, while the inotropic responses were not affected. 3. Hypothermic supersensitivity to norepinephrine or epinephrine was not observed in rat atrium. 4. The inotropic response to ouabain was potentiated but chronotropic response was diminished by a lowering in the bath temperature. In conclusion, the chronotropic response of rat atrium to catecholamine was decreased, however, hypothermic supersensitivity was no longer present in rat atrium and the inotropic response of ouabain was increased at lower bath temperature.