1. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that impaired calcium (Ca2+) recycling by sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+-ATPase takes place in aortae from 1 kidney-1 clip (1K-1C) hypertensive rats. 2. The contractile response elicited when Ca2+ is released from the SR with phenylephrine and caffeine in Ca2+-free Krebs solution was greater in 1K-1C than in 1K rat aorta. In the arteries submitted to intracellular Ca2+ store depletion and reloading, this response was not different between 1K-1C and 1K rat aortae. Thapsigargin decreased the phasic contractile responses to phenylephrine in 1K and 1K-1C rat aortae and increased the tone that developed during the refilling period in 1K-1C rat aortae. 3. Our data support the hypothesis that the 1K-1C rat aorta has defective intracellular Ca2+ regulation that may be implicated in an inadequate SR buffering ability.