There have been reports on the aberration of the control mechanisms of the blood pressure, hormone secretion, and renal functions in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). However, the contribution of the renin-angiotensin system in the maintenance of high blood pressure in SHR is still controversial. Recently, it has been reported that the negative feedback short loop control mechanism of the renin-angiotensin system may be changed in SHR. In the present experiment, it was attempted to explore the possible alterations in the effect of arginine vasopressin (AVP) on the renal function in SHR. Experiments have been done in anesthetized SHR as well as in normotensive Wistar and Sprague-Dawley rats as control groups. Pharmacologic doses of AVP (10-13 mU/rat/10 min) decreased urine volume, excreted amount of creatinine and para-amino-hippuric acid. No differences in these parameters was observed between normotensive and hypertensive rats. AVP increased sodium and potassium excretion, but the responses in SHR were suppressed as compared with normotensive rats. Intravenous infusion of AVP also increased blood pressure in normotensive and hypertensive rats and a vasopressor effect of AVP was attenuated in SHR. There was a positive correlation between the changes in blood pressure and excreted amount of sodium during AVP infusion. These data suggest that the attenuated natriuretic effect of intravenous infusion of AVP may be due to a difference in renal tubular responsiveness to AVP but not due to a difference in vasopressor responsiveness.