The theory of whole body autoregulation to explain the pathogenesis of experimental renal hypertension states that hypertension is initiated in response to an early increase in salt and water retention and a subsequent elevation of the cardiac output. This hypothesis was evaluated in the present study. Dogs (n,5) were made hypertensive by wrapping the left kidney in cellophane and removing the contralateral kidney 3 wk later. One week prior to right nephrectomy, the dogs were volume depleted by placing them on a low sodium intake (less than 3 meq of sodium/day) and giving them a mercurial diuretic for the first 3 days of the diet. This superimposed sodium depletion (negative sodium balance of 137 +/- 17 meq) increased plasma renin activity 3-5 times but did not change arterial pressure or heart rate. Within 2 days after nephrectomy, the mean arterial pressure increased from the control level of 105 +/- 1 to 135 +/- 6 mmHg (P less than 0.005) and pressure remained elevated throughout an additional 4-wk period in which volume depletion was enforced. The present study suggests, therefore, that initial blood volume expansion with such possible consequences as elevated cardiac output are not essential to the pathogenesis of experimental renal hypertension.