Superfusion of the cheek pouch with 0.1-10 nM endothelin (E) produced a concentration-related reduction in the clearance of 22Na+ used as an indicator of microvascular plasma flow. The median effective concentration was about 2 nM. The time course of E action was also concentration related. Superfusion with 10 nM E for 10 min caused a greater than 80% reduction in 22Na+ clearance; the rate at which the action of E started was significantly faster than the rate at which its action ended. Recovery did not exceed 70% even though the tissue was superfused with drug-free buffer for 90 min. The E-induced reduction in 22Na+ clearance was associated with vasoconstriction, as determined by intravital microscopy. Arterioles of 4th branching order were more sensitive to E action than arterioles of 1st or 2nd order; however, the constriction lasted considerably longer in the latter vessels. E-induced venular constriction followed a pattern analogous to that of arterioles of the same category, with the exception that the finer venules responded the least. Pretreatment of the cheek pouch with 300 nM nifedipine diminished but did not abolish the 1 nM E-induced reduction in 22Na+ clearance, and the recovery of clearance upon E washout was not accelerated by nifedipine.