Studies were carried out to define the effect of semotiadil on renal hemodynamics, renal function and renin release in pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs. Intrarenal arterial infusion of semotiadil resulted in a significant increase in renal blood flow (RBF), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), urine flow, urinary excretion of electrolytes and renin release. Semotiadil did not affect the linear relationship between osmolar clearance and the free water reabsorption rate, and increased the urinary excretion of sodium and calcium to the same extent. These results suggest that the main tubular site of action of semotiadil is the proximal tubule. Intrarenal infusion of a potent non-peptide angiotensin II antagonist, DuP753 (15 micrograms/kg per min), resulted in an increase in RBF, GFR, urine flow and UNaV. In spite of the blockade of the intrarenal renin angiotensin system(RAS) with DuP753, semotiadil caused almost the same effects as it did in the absence of DuP753. These results suggest that the renal effects of semotiadil are independent of the intrarenal RAS.