Vasodilators are used in newborns under conditions where hypoxia may be prominent. To study the effects of vasodilator therapy on organ oxygen delivery we measured blood flow (using radioactive microspheres) and arterial oxygen content in six chronically catheterized newborn lambs. Cardiac output and its distribution were measured during normoxia, hypoxia (10% O2 and 5% CO2), and hypoxia with a nitroprusside infusion. Hypoxia decreased oxygen content but did not change heart rate, mean blood pressure, or cardiac output. When nitroprusside was infused during hypoxemia, oxygen content and heart rate were not affected, but mean arterial blood pressure fell (39% decrease). During hypoxemia, blood flow increased to the heart, brain, and carcass but decreased to the gastrointestinal tract. When nitroprusside was infused during hypoxemia, blood flow decreased to the heart, brain, kidneys, and carcass. Oxygen delivery (arterial O2 content X blood flow) decreased to the brain as well as to kidneys, stomach, and carcass when nitroprusside was given to the hypoxemic lamb.