The role of nitric oxide (NO) in the hemorrhagic hypotension was examined using a NO synthase inhibitor, Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), in conscious rats. The rats were bled at a constant rate (2 ml/kg/min) through a femoral arterial catheter until the mean arterial pressure (MAP) was reduced by 50 mmHg. We studied the responses to hemorrhage under normal condition (Control) and after the pretreatment with 3 doses of L-NAME (1.6, 8, 40 mg/kg i.v. of NOX1.6, NOX8, and NOX40, respectively). Intravenous bolus injection of L-NAME produced a sustained increase in MAP and decrease in heart rate (HR). During hemorrhage, the MAP fell faster in the NOX8 and NOX40-treated groups than in Control group, but the control group showed same response to NOX1.6. HR greatly increased in NOX groups. The recovery from hemorrhagic hypotension was slowed in the control group, which was not treated with L-NAME. In comparison with the control group, NOX8 and NOX1.6-treated groups registered a significant recovery in MAP during the 15 min recovery period, but NOX40 brought about only a slight increase in MAP. NO precursor, L-arginine (150 mg/kg i.v.), produced significant bradycardic responses before and after hemorrhage and significant depressor response only after hemorrhagic hypotension regardless of pretreatment with L-NAME. These data suggest that the role of NO in blood pressure regulation is greater after hemorrhagic hypotension than basal condition, but the effect of NO can be detrimental to the recovery from hemorrhagic hypotension. In addition, the bradycardic response of L-arginine provides indirect evidence that NO may inhibit sympathetic activity, especially after hemorrhagic hypotension.