Experiments were performed on anaesthetized, lactating rats to investigate the acute central actions of relaxin on blood pressure and vasopressin release. When compared with saline and control injections of isotonic protein extract, administration of relaxin into either the lateral or dorsal portion of the third ventricle caused a significant and sustained rise in arterial blood pressure. In contrast, relaxin administered to the ventral portion of the third ventricle caused only a short-term rise in blood pressure. Injections of relaxin into the fourth ventricle were without significant effect, suggesting that the central actions of relaxin on blood pressure are mediated by receptors restricted to the diencephalon or mesencephalon. A similar ventricular specificity was noted for the central relaxin-induced stimulation of vasopressin release as judged by concentrations of the hormone in the peripheral plasma. It is unlikely that the stimulation of vasopressin release is wholly responsible for the observed pressor effect observed. Lesion of the subfornical organ negated the pressor effect to relaxin injected into the dorsal region of the third ventricle, but did not affect the pressor response observed after injection of relaxin into the ventral portion of the third ventricle. These results demonstrate a biphasic action of centrally administered relaxin, with the response to dorsally placed third ventricle relaxin being mediated by the subfornical organ, and the response to ventral injections associated with an unknown structure of the ventral third ventricle wall.