One hour occlusion of total renal blood flow results in oliguric acute renal failure as defined by an abrupt and severe diminution in glomerular filtration rate. In rats, after 1-2 h of such ischemia, the acute renal failure which follows is characterized by decreased renal blood flow and by intratubular obstruction with necrotic cellular debris. The present study has examined the possible role of the complement system in the development of this model of acute renal failure. Immunoreactive C3 was extensively localized within necrotic tubular epithelial cells and the walls of small muscular arteries in reperfused kidneys after 1 h of total renal ischemia. Depletion of complement by the administration of cobra venom factor 18 h prior to the induction of ischemia abrogated C3 localization and significantly attenuated the subsequent fall in renal blood flow following reperfusion but did not alter the oliguria or marked fall in glomerular filtration.