Atropine-induced heart rate (HR) changes were studied in 19 patients (ASA physical status I) during anaesthesia maintained predominantly with propofol-N20 or thiopentone-enflurane-N20. Ten patients (Group A) received midazolam (0.07 rag. kg-J ), fentanyl (1 Izg. kg-l ), propofol (2 mg" kg -l ) and succinylcholine (1 rag. kg-1). Following tracheal intubation, anaesthesia was maintained with propofol (6 mg. kg -I . hr-l ) (minute vol. 85 ml. kg-l ; tidal vol. 7 ml. kg-l ). Ten minutes after tracheal intubation, incremental doses of atropine (equivalent cumulative doses: 1.8, 3.6, 7.2, 14.4, (vol. minute 85 ml. kg-l ; volume courant 7 ml. kg-I ). Dix minutes aprds l' intubation, des doses croissantes d'atropine (doses cumulatives: 1,8, 3,6, 7,2, 14,4, 28,8 lzg" kg -I)