Since it has been reported that the depolarization-induced NE release is inhibited by activation of presynaptic A1-adenosine heteroreceptor in hippocampus, a large body of experimental data on the post-receptor mechanism of this process has been accumulated. But, the post-receptor mechanism of presynaptic A1-adenosine receptor on the NE release has not been clearly elucidated yet. Therefore, it was attempted to clarify the participation of K+-channel in the post-receptor mechanisms of the A1-adenosine receptor-mediated control of NE release in this study. Slices from rat hippocampus were equilibrated with 3H-norepinephrine and the release of the labelled products was evoked by electrical stimulation (3 Hz, 5 VCm-1, 2 ms, rectangular pulses), and the influence of various agents on the evoked tritium-outflow was investigated. Adenosine, in concentrations ranging from 1 ~ 30μM, decreased the NE release in a dose-dependent manner, without affecting the basal rate of release. 4AP (1 ~ 30μM), a specific A-type K+-channel blocker, increased the evoked NE release in a dose-related fashion, and the basal rate of release is increased by 10 and 30μM. TEA (1 ~ 10μ M), a nonspecific K+-channel blocker, increased the evoked NE release in a dose-dependent manner without affecting basal release. The adenosine effects were significantly inhibites by 3 μM 4AP and 10 mM TEA treatment. 4AP (30μM)- and TEA (10 mM)-induced increments of evoked NE release were completely abolished in Ca++ free, but these were recoverd in low Ca++ medium. And the effects of K+-channel blockers in low Ca++ medium were inhibites and abolishes by Mg++ (4 mM) adding and TTX (0.3μM) adding medium, respectively. These results suggest that the decrement of the evoked NE-release by A1-adenosine receptor is mediated by 4AP and TEA sensitive K+-channel.