The effects of 3,4-DHAP on hypoxic pulmonary and systemic vascular responses were studied in anaesthetized dogs. The percentage change in pulmonary vascular resistance (delta PVR %) and that in systemic vascular resistance (delta SVR %) induced by 5 min hypoxia decreased significantly. 3,4-DHAP in doses of 1 mg/kg, 3 mg/kg, and 10 mg/kg i.v. caused a decrease in delta PVR% from the control value of 47.27 +/- 22.27% to 24.62 +/- 21.76%, 18.15 +/- 18.73%, and 24.10 +/- 19.76% respectively, and a decrease in delta SVR % from the control value of 12.91 +/- 7.39 % to -0.34 +/- 12.70%, -2.11 +/- 12.76%, and -2.37 +/- 15.52 % respectively. The results showed that 3,4-DHAP could decrease the hypoxic responses of pulmonary and systemic blood vessels. But it did not change delta PVR % or delta SVR % in dose of 30 mg/kg, neither did it influence the heart rate, cardiac output or cerebral blood flow during hypoxia in all the doses used.