Injection of N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), an L-arginine analogue and a potent inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthase, in dorsolateral periaqueductal gray (PAG) area of freely moving rats at doses from 0.1 to 1 mumol per rat, dose-dependently increased arterial blood pressure (BP). Endothelin-1 (ET-1) injected in the same area at doses from 0.1 to 1 pmol per rat also induced pressor effects. Administration of L-NAME (1 mumol per rat) in the PAG area 10 min before ET-1 significantly (p < 0.01) potentiated ET-1-induced hypertension. Pretreatment with L-arginine (1 mumol per rat), precursor of NO, significantly (p < 0.01) decreased L-NAME-induced potentiation of ET-1 pressor effects. L-Arginine also prevented the ET-induced increase in arterial BP and reversed L-NAME-induced hypertensive effect. Prazosin and propranolol, adrenergic blocking agents, and reserpine, a depletor of catecholamine stores, reduced either ET-1 or L-NAME pressor effects. Our data suggest the presence of NO synthase in the PAG area, considered an important cerebral area in coordinating physiologic responses such as cardiovascular and respiratory adjustment. Moreover, our results suggest that even at the PAG area level, functional antagonism exists between NO and ET-1, possibly contributing, through sympathetic outflow, to central regulation of arterial BP.