The effects of 7mM neomycin, 10 mM kanamycin and 5 mM gentamicin on vascular smooth muscle contractile responses and 45Ca movements were examined in arterial preparations isolated from nonhuman primates (squirrel monkeys, capuchin monkeys and baboons). 2. Present findings demonstrate that these antibiotics inhibit contractile responses and alter 45Ca movements in monkey blood vessels, and suggest that the manner in which these agents affect vascular smooth muscle from nonhuman primates does not differ qualitatively from their effects in canine and rabbit vascular preparations.