Studies were performed in partly free moving Beagle dogs, kept under standardized environmental and dietetic conditions (food intake: once daily at 8:30 a.m., 5.5 mmol Na/kg body weight per 24 h). The dogs were chronically instrumented with an inflatable cuff around the aorta above the renal arteries, two aortic catheters above and below the cuff, and a bladder catheter. Three protocols were performed in 7 dogs each: (i) METHODS urine collection in 20-min intervals and measurement of Na excretion, continuous registration of mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) and heart rate for 4 consecutive days. (ii) As (i), but additional servocontrolled reduction of the renal perfusion pressure (rRPP) to stimulate renin secretion and the formation of angiotensin II and aldosterone. (iii) As (ii), but additional constant infusion of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor Captopril. Despite rRPP Na is only transiently retained (pressure escape). MABP level is elevated, as long as total-body Na is augmented. In protocol iii no Na retention occurs, indicating that rRPP per se causes no Na retention. MABP level remained unchanged. Independent of the preset MABP level similar diurnal variation in MABP are present in all protocols. During control days major amounts of Na are excreted postprandially. Up to 5:00 p.m. 65% of the daily Na intake is excreted. After disturbance of Na control (protocols ii and iii) the Na excretion is shifted to the evening and night. Probably due to this shift Na retention can be prevented. Furthermore, these results demonstrate that rRPP-induced increases of total body Na and MABP are solely mediated by the activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.