Changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF), arterial blood pressure (AP), and cardiac output (CO) were studied during stepwise blood losses in 12 unanesthetized goats. Bleeding was followed by a drop in CBF, AP and CO in a nearly parallel fashion. Control values (means +/- SE) for CBF, AP, and CO were 117 +/- 5.6 ml/min per 100 g, 105 +/- 3.1 mmHg, and 2,825 +/- 124 ml/min, respectively; and after bleeding, 66 +/- 3.9 ml/min per 100 g, 57 mmHg, and 1, 383 ml/min. Arterial blood samples obtained before bleeding, during the hypotensive state, and after reinfusion did not show any significant differences in pH, PCO2, and PO2 values. In phentolamine-treated animals, bleeding produced a drop in AP and CO similar to that observed in the nontreated animals; however, the decrease in CBF was less marked. These findings show that CBF follows pari passu the fall in AP, and they indicate that the alpha-adrenergic receptors of the cerebral vessels are involved in the cerebral blood flow changes in hemorrhage.