Renal blood flow (RBF) and the distribution of cortical blood flow (microspheres) were measured in the dog after 90 min of total unilateral renal ischemia. RBF was 21% greater than control 2 min after release of the renal artery occlusion, and returned toward control 60 min later. At 2 min after release there was a small but significant increment in deep cortical blood flow which reverted to control by 60 min. When renal artery occlusion was maintained for 180 min, return of blood flow was blunted at 2 min after release of the occlusion, but was not significantly different from control within 10 min after release. Clearance rates of inulin and para-aminohippurate (Cin and Cpah) were 81 and 82% below control after release of occlusion. These data demonstrate that in the dog there is prompt and complete return of blood flow to or above control levels after complete renal artery occlusion. There was no evidence for the "no-reflow" phenomenon.