Arterial myogenic tone and subsequent constriction of blood vessels develop as an intrinsic reaction of resistance arteries to elevated intraluminal blood pressure. The molecular identity of the mechanosensory elements is still elusive. Recent studies at the cellular level suggest a sensory function for a subgroup of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) coupling to G_q/11-proteins. By determining RNA-levels of individual GPCRs in functional pairs of large and small vessels, we could identify an array of G_q/11-coupled receptors such as angiotensin II AT_1B, vasopressin V_1A and endothelin ET_A receptors significantly enriched in resistance vessels. Furthermore, we show that pharmacological blockade of those receptors by different antagonists and inverse agonists attenuated myogenic tone as measured in isolated murine mesenteric arteries ex vivo. These findings suggest that GPCRs play an important role for wall strain homeostasis by sensing mechanical stress.