The effects of alpha-human atrial natriuretic peptide (alpha-hANP) on cardiovascular and renal function in conscious dogs were evaluated in two experimental protocols. In one protocol, alpha-hANP was infused intravenously at increasing rates of 50, 100, and 200 ng.min-1.kg-1 (stepup infusion) during successive 20-min periods. The greatest responses occurred during the final 20-min period of the stepup infusion when the plasma concentration of immunoreactive atrial natriuretic peptide (irANP) was increased by 44-fold over preinfusion values; pressures in the aorta and both atria were decreased at this time, whereas glomerular filtration rate, urine flow, and sodium excretion were increased. In a second protocol, alpha-hANP was infused for 1 h at constant rates of either 12.5, 25, or 50 ng.min-1.kg-1; these constant infusions increased plasma irANP by 3-, 7-, and 12-fold, respectively. Each infusion rate decreased left and right atrial pressures and increased urine flow and sodium excretion. The two lowest infusion rates elevated plasma irANP to levels that would be expected to occur only during unusual physiological, or perhaps pathophysiological, conditions. The two highest infusion rates decreased plasma renin activity. Nevertheless, the accompanying maximal increases in sodium excretion were modest (41-72%). These data imply that small changes in circulating atrial peptides that presumably occur under normal physiological conditions would not have a dominant effect on the regulation of sodium excretion; the peptides may, however, play a modulatory role on sodium excretion under these conditions. It remains to be determined whether the ability of atrial peptides to lower cardiac filling pressures is of physiological significance.