The exact mechanism of action of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors in reducing blood pressure is not known, although inhibition of angiotensin II formation is the generally accepted mechanism. Experiments were performed in two models of experimental hypertension to determine whether or not inhibition of the pressor response to angiotensin I, 300 ng/kg i.v., would correlate with the antihypertensive response to single oral doses of N-[(S)-1-(ethoxycarbonyl)-3-phenylpropyl]-L-Ala-L-Pro (MK-421), a new ACE inhibitor. Captopril, given as a single oral dose, was studied in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) for comparative purposes. In SHR, MK-421 at 0.1-3 mg/kg p.o. and captopril at 0.1-3 mg/kg p.o. were approximately equipotent with regard to inhibiting the pressor response to angiotensin I (relative potency=1.7; 95% C.I.=0.7-4.5). The magnitude of ACE inhibition and onset of action were similar with both agents, but MK-421 had a longer duration of action. The decrement in systolic pressure following each ACE inhibitor consisted of an initial decrease in blood pressure corresponding to the maximal inhibition of angiotensin I pressor response and a secondary fall in blood pressure which was evident 5-6 h after treatment. At this time, the inhibition of the pressor response to angiotensin I was minimal. Thus, the time course for blockade of angiotensin I and the blood pressure reduction did not correspond. The dose-response regression lines for the antihypertensive effect of each inhibitor, unlike those for ACE inhibition, were flat. The potency ratio computed on the basis of the maximum fall in blood pressure over 6 h revealed that MK-421 was 11.5 times (P less than 0.05) more potent thant captopril. In 2-kidney Grollman renal hypertensive rats (RHR), MK-421 at 0.3-10 mg/kg p.o. inhibited the pressor response to angiotensin I by 65-95%, but produced significant decrements in blood pressure only at 10 mg/kg p.o. The finding that MK-421 was more potent than captopril in lowering blood pressure in SHR, yet equally active in its ability to block angiotensin I pressor responses, suggests that a mechanism(s) other than inhibition of plasma ACE is involved in the decrease in blood pressure was not reduced. However, a higher dose which produced a similar degree of blockade was associated with a significant decrease in blood pressure.