Plasma catecholamine levels have been used experiemtally and clinically as the indices of the sympathetic nerve activity. We measured plasma catecholamines using high pressure liquid chromatography in rats to assess the significance of plasma catecholamines as an index of the sympathetic nerve activity and its role in hypertension. Pentobarbital anesthesia depressed plasma catecholamine levels, especially plasma adrenaline. Sodium loading for 5 weeks suppressed plasma noradrenaline, while administration of furosemide (1 mg/kg) produced the elevation of plasma noradrenaline. Experimental hypertension, one-kidney and two-kidney types of Goldblatt hypertension and DOCA-salt hypertension, raised plasma noradrenalines both in acute and chronic phases. The infusion of pressor doses of angiotensin II suppressed plasma noradrenaline by the reflex mechanism. Sar1, Ile8-angiotensin II and SQ 14,225 did not suppress plasma cathecholamine elevation due to hemorrhage. L-Hydroxyldopamine produced elevation of plasma catecholamines in experimental nypertension and controls in rats. After adrenal demedullation, plasma noradrenaline was decreased by the administration of 6-hydroxy-dopamine. Acute reduction of circulating blood volume and blood pressure fall produced the elevation of plasma catecholamine, especially plasma adrenaline. In rats, the adrenal medulla plays an important role in the regulation of blood pressure.