The cardiovascular activity of 9-hydroxy-ellipticine (9-OH-E) has been studied on anaesthetized dogs. The drug has been administered intravenously in one dose ranging from 1 to 10 mg/kg. The variations in the myocardial contractility, the systemic haemodynamics, the respiration and the general metabolism of the anaesthetized dogs were studied to make evident the mechanism of 9-OH-E cardiostimulating action. 9-OH-E from 5 mg/kg i.v. stimulates the contractility of myocardium and improves the cardiac performances of the anaesthetized dogs. This heart-stimulating action is long-lasting and is not accompanied by any modification in the arterial blood pressure. It is inhibited or at least strongly attenuated by β-adrenergic blocking agents and by the depletion of catecholamines.