Several experimental forms of hypertension require intact renal innervation for the development or maintenance (or both) of the elevated arterial pressure. We determined the relationships between urinary sodium and water excretion and arterial pressure in Dahl salt-sensitive rats (DS) with innervated (n = 6) and denervated (n = 7) kidneys after switching from a low to a high sodium diet. Arterial pressure significantly increased in both groups within 48 hours after they began to eat an 8% sodium chloride diet. This hypertension increased to 188 +/- 9 and 190 +/- 7 mm Hg, respectively, in rats with innervated and denervated kidneys after 12 days. Mean arterial pressures were not significantly different between groups on any day. The rise in arterial pressure of DS placed on a high sodium intake was associated with an elevation of urine flow rate and urinary sodium excretions in rats with either innervated or denervated kidneys. Urine flow rates and urinary sodium excretions were greater in denervated than in innervated rats on Days 4 through 7 after beginning the high sodium diet. This diuresis and natriuresis in rats with denervated kidneys were associated with greater water and sodium intakes on Days 4 to 7 of the high sodium diet when compared with rats with innervated kidneys. These results demonstrate that, following exposure to a high sodium intake, DS have increased arterial pressure within 24 hours. The development of this arterial hypertension is not dependent on intact renal innervation. In conscious DS, the renal innervation does participate in the regulation of urinary sodium excretion by promoting renal sodium and water reabsorption.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)