Recent evidence suggests an important role for the median preoptic nucleus (MnPO) in cardiovascular responses evoked by angiotension II (ANG II). We therefore planned to determine whether selective inactivation of this nucleus would produce deficits in pressor responsiveness to centrally administered ANG II and carbachol. Chronic disruption of MnPO by electrolytic lesion produced pressor deficits to centrally administered ANG II and carbachol but did not change resting arterial pressure. In addition, blockade of neuronal activity in MnPO produced by the microinjection of the local anesthetic lidocaine reversibly attenuated pressor responses to these agents without producing any change in resting arterial pressure. The microinjection of ANG II itself into sites in which lidocaine blocked ANG II pressor responses had no effect on arterial pressure but did produce drinking. These data suggest that the MnPO, although not acting as a receptor site for the pressor effect of ANG II, plays an important role in mediating the pressor response evoked by centrally administered ANG II and carbachol.