In monkeys anesthetized with 70% nitrous oxide and 0.5% inspired halothane in oxygen, we measured changes in systemic hemodynamics and regional blood flows produced by nitroprusside and trimethaphan. Regional blood flow measurements were made using the radioactive microsphere technique. Control measurements were made before infusion of nitroprusside and trimethaphan into each animal in sequence in amounts adequate to reduce mean arterial pressure to approximately 55 +/- 5 mm Hg. Measurements were made during each drug infusion after a stable period of hypotension lasting at least 30 min. During nitroprusside infusion, cerebral blood flow remained unchanged, but myocardial blood flow increased significantly. However, pressure-rate product, an indirect measure of myocardial oxygen consumption, was unchanged, implying that myocardial blood flow exceeded myocardial oxygen requirement. During trimethaphan infusion, cerebral blood flow decreased, although cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen was unchanged due to increased oxygen extraction by the brain. Trimethaphan also produced a decrease in myocardial blood flow that was in proportion to the decrease in myocardial oxygen requirement as indicated by pressure-rate product. Neither drug produced changes in renal or total hepatic blood flows. We conclude that brain oxygen reserve is decreased during hypotension induced by trimethaphan. Blood flows to other organs are not significantly impaired in monkeys during hypotension to a mean arterial pressure of approximately 55 mm Hg induced by either nitroprusside or trimethaphan.