Fetal sheep appear less responsive to infused angiotensin II (ANG II) than pregnant ewes. This may reflect a greater fetal metabolic clearance rate (MCRANGII) and thus lower plasma ANG II levels. We therefore determined fetal MCRANGII, half-life (T1/2), and placental removal of ANG II. Fetal sheep (n = 13; 113-139 days of gestation) received 0.573-5.73 micrograms ANG II/min iv for 30 min while arterial pressure and heart rate were monitored. Serial blood samples were obtained before and during a 30-min infusion to measure ANG II and calculate MCRANGII and after stopping the infusion to determine T1/2. MCRANGII was similar across gestation and at doses < or = 2.29 micrograms/min (683 +/- 49 vs. 74 +/- 5 ml.min-1.kg-1 for adults) but was 30-40% lower with 5.73 micrograms ANG II/min (494 +/- 57 ml.min-1.kg-1, P < 0.05). T1/2 was 15-21 s. Fetal placental ANG II removal averaged 87 +/- 3 vs. 20 +/- 6% for uteroplacental removal; this was unaffected by dose and was linear with plasma ANG II levels, and saturation was not evident. Plasma ANG II levels rose proportionally with infusion rate and did not change significantly over time; thus fetal plasma ANG II concentrations can be predicted from MCRANGII. Measured and predicted ANG II levels at each infusion rate and time point were similar: r = 0.87, slope = 0.87 (P < 0.001). At equivalent predicted plasma ANG II levels fetal and maternal pressor responses were similar (P > 0.1); however, increases in umbilical vascular resistance exceeded those in uteroplacental vascular resistance (P < 0.03). Fetal MCRANGII is approximately 10-fold greater than maternal, partially reflecting the extensive capacity of ANG II removal by the placental circulation. Contrary to previous conclusions, fetal-maternal pressor sensitivity to ANG II does not differ, whereas the placental vasculature is more sensitive to ANG II than the uteroplacental circulation.