The renin-angiotensin system plays an important role in the regulation of blood pressure and in body fluid homeostasis. There is increasing evidence for generation of endogenous angiotensin II in many organs and for its role in paracrine functions. Studies were designed to investigate whether hemorrhage produces rapid changes in the gene expression of angiotensinogen in peripheral and brain tissues. Wistar rats received saline drinking water for 7 days, were bled at a rate of 3mlkg^-1 min^-1 for 7 min, and then decapitated 0, 2, 4, 8, or 24 hr after hemorrhage. Hemorrhage produced a produced hypotension with tachycardia at 2±8 hr, but blood pressure and heart rate had not fully recovered to the basal level at 24 hr. Plasma renin concentration was significantly increased at 2, 4, and 8 hr (maximum sixfold increase at 4 hr) and had returned to the basal level at 24 hr. Renal renin content was significantly increased only at 4 hr after hemorrhage. Angiotensinogen mRNA in both the kidney and liver were stimulated at 2 to 8 hrs, but recovered to the basal level at 24 hr. On the other hand, angiotensinogen mRNA levels il the hypothalamus and brainstem were continuously increased from 2 to 24 hrs. The present study demonstrates the presence of angiotensinogen mRNA in both hepatic and extrahepatic tissues, and more importantly, their up-regulation after hemorrhage. These results suggest that the angiotensinogen-generating systems in the liver, kideny and brain are, at least in part, under independent control and play a local physiological role.