The regional hemodynamic consequences of inhibiting vascular endothelial nitric oxide generation with NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) were studied in conscious Long-Evans rats. Experiments were carried out in groups of chronically instrumented rats with intravascular catheters and pulsed Doppler probes to monitor regional blood flow. L-NMMA (0.3-300 mg/kg) caused a dose-dependent, long-lasting (5-90 minutes), and enantiomerically specific increase in mean blood pressure and also caused bradycardia. The increase in blood pressure was accompanied by a dose-dependent and long-lasting vasoconstriction in the internal carotid, mesenteric, renal, and hindquarters vascular beds that could be attenuated, in a concentration-dependent manner, by L-arginine but not by D-arginine. In contrast, L-arginine did not affect the pressor or vasoconstrictor effects of vasopressin. These results indicate that nitric oxide production by vascular endothelial cells contributes to the maintenance of blood pressure and to the control of the resting tone of different vascular beds in the conscious rat.