Local interstitial fluid volume (IFV) and pressure (IFP) were used to estimate interstitial compliance (= delta IFV/delta IFP) in skin and skeletal muscle of normotensive (NT) and renal hypertensive rats (HT). The IFV was measured as the extravascular 51Cr-EDTA space, and IFP with micropipettes (tip diameter 2-4 microns) connected to a servocontrolled counter-pressure system. After control measurements, overhydration was induced by infusion of saline, 10% of body weight i.v. with or without venous stasis. Alternatively, dehydration was induced by peritoneal dialysis with 20% glucose or by furosemide infusion with or without 24 h fluid deprivation. Control ECV averaged 24.94 and 24.73 ml per 100 g in NT and HT, respectively (P greater than 0.05). Control PV averaged 2.81 and 3.28 ml per 100 g in NT and HT, respectively (P = 0.061), and control IFP was more positive in HT than in NT: 0.4 mmHg in skin (P less than 0.05) and 0.2 mmHg in skeletal muscle (P greater than 0.05). Dehydration changed PV significantly more in HT than in NT (P less than 0.05). The interstitial volume-pressure curve was linear in dehydration and the initial part of overhydration but gradually levelled off, and the maximal rise in IFP was 1-1.5 mmHg in skin and muscle. Interstitial compliance was calculated from the dehydration part of the volume-pressure curve and was in NT 14% per mmHg both in skin and skeletal muscle. In HT, compliance during dehydration was 10.2 and 20.7% reduction in IFV per mmHg fall in IFP in skin and muscle, respectively, not significantly different from corresponding values in NT (P greater than 0.05). We conclude that HT had unaltered ECV and a tendency to higher PV, and that interstitial compliance was not significantly different in normotensive and hypertensive rats.