We examined the renal effects of synthetic oxytocin (OT) in the presence and absence of vasopressin in conscious euvolemic rats. Both sexes of the Long-Evans (LE) and Brattleboro homozygous (DI) strains were used. OT infused intravenously at 0.25 and 2.5 ng X min-1 X 100 g body wt (BW)-1 resulted, respectively, in plasma concentrations of 30 +/- 6 and 265 +/- 88 pg/ml in LE rats and 46 +/- 5 and 327 +/- 29 pg/ml in DI rats. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was augmented most consistently by the larger dose of hormone in LE rats (P less than 0.05), whereas the low infusion rate of OT enhanced GFR in DI rats (P less than 0.01). Effective renal plasma flow was not changed significantly. OT (both doses) increased the fractional excretion of sodium two- to threefold in each strain of animal (all at least P less than 0.05 from control), whereas the fractional excretion of potassium was largely unaffected. In LE rats, a diuresis was observed with either infusion rate of hormone, accompanied by a rise in osmolar clearance (COsm). In contrast, there was no change of urine flow with the low dose of OT in DI rats, because COsm increased and the clearance of free water (CH2O) decreased proportionately. The higher infusion rate of OT promoted antidiuresis in DI rats, with negative CH2O and little change in COsm. We conclude that oxytocin enhances GFR and is natriuretic regardless of the presence or absence of endogenous vasopressin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)