The goal of this study was to determine the role of arterial baroreceptors in the reflex control of arginine vasopressin (AVP), renin, and cortisol secretion in response to a 30-ml/kg hemorrhage in conscious dogs. The hormonal responses were measured in six dogs under four treatment conditions: 1) intact, 2) acute cardiac denervation (CD) by intrapericardial infusion of procaine, 3) after sinoaortic denervation (SAD), and 4) during combined SAD + CD. In the intact condition, mean arterial pressure (MAP) was maintained at control levels until blood loss reached 20 ml/kg and the absolute magnitude of the fall at 30 ml/kg was 35 +/- 10 mmHg. Similar responses were obtained during acute CD. In contrast, MAP fell earlier (at 5 ml/kg, P < 0.05) and to much lower levels in both the SAD and SAD + CD conditions. The individual slopes relating systolic pressure to plasma AVP, renin activity (PRA), and cortisol were used to compare the treatment effects using a 2 x 2 factorial analysis. There was a significant (P < 0.01) effect of SAD on the slope relating AVP to systolic pressure but no effect of CD and no SAD x CD interaction. In contrast, there was no effect of either SAD or CD on the relationship between PRA or plasma cortisol and systolic pressure. These results indicate that maintenance of blood pressure and the normal pattern of AVP secretion during hemorrhage depend on intact arterial baroreceptor reflexes.