Dahl described a strain of rats with genetically controlled propensities for hypertension. Chronic excess salt feeding increased blood pressure in sensitive (s) rats, whereas resistant rats (R) remain normotensive. We tested the pressure natriuretic function (urinary sodium excretion versus perfusion pressure) in isolated kidneys perfused with a cellular medium: in sodium-restricted normotensive sensitive (S0) and resistant (R0) animals; in sensitive rats receiving a high-salt diet for 3 weeks (S3): and in both S and R animals exposed to excess sodium for 7 weeks (R7 and S7). The aim of these studies was to determine if a preset alteration of the pressure natriuretic function might be present in S animals prior to the development of hypertension. Systolic blood pressure in S0, S3, and S7 animals were 123 +/- 4, 136 +/- 2, and 162 +/- 4 mm Hg, respectively, whereas that of R0 and R7 were 121 +/- 5 and 126 +/- 5 mm Hg. An increase of the perfusion pressure of isolated kidneys from 105 to 185 mm Hg in stepwise fashion resulted in a pressure natriuresis whose slope was similar in R0 and S0 animals. Of interest was that the pressure natriuretic function slope of kidneys from R0 (low sodium) and R7 (high sodium) rats was as predicted by the Guyton system analysis of normal blood pressure control Micropuncture of the proximal nephrons demonstrated that the origin of the natriuresis resulted from a site beyond the accessible proximal tubule. Results from S7 kidneys contrasted with all others in that the natriuretic response was depressed (P less than 0.01), which resulted from significantly lower filtration rates at higher perfusion pressures. We concluded (1) in normal R rats, the pressure natriuretic function is that predicted by the Guyton hypothesis, (2) Dahl S animals have no preset abnormality of this function until hypertension is present for some time, and (3) a depression of the pressure natriuretic function may aggravate hypertension in S rats once high blood pressure has persisted.