Blockade of the renin-angiotensin system was studied in male Sprague-Dawley rats during long-term inhibition of nitric oxide synthase. Nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME) was placed in the drinking water for 4 weeks (approximately 100 mg/kg per day). Separate groups of rats were coadministered the angiotensin II antagonist A-81988 in the drinking water ranging from approximately 0.001 to 1 mg/kg per day. Control groups received only tap water or A-81988 alone. Each week, rats were placed in metabolic cages, and tail-cuff blood pressures and blood samples were taken. L-NAME produced a sustained elevation in tail-cuff pressure that was completely prevented by A-81988. No changes in creatinine clearance, sodium excretion, plasma creatinine concentration, or blood urea nitrogen were observed. Food and water intakes were identical in all groups. Water excretion was significantly increased in L-NAME-treated animals regardless of additional inhibitor treatment, suggesting a possible role for nitric oxide synthase in the control of water excretion; this effect was independent of blood pressure. Although less potent than A-81988, the angiotensin II antagonist losartan and the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor enalapril also blocked L-NAME-induced hypertension. In a separate series of experiments, rats were not given A-81988 until 2 weeks after hypertension had fully developed in L-NAME-treated rats. Within 1 week of treatment with the angiotensin II antagonist, tail-cuff pressure returned to normal. We conclude from these studies that long-term inhibition of endogenous nitric oxide production produces an angiotensin II-dependent form of hypertension.