Our purpose was to study the influence of the stimulation of the cerebroventricular system on some mechanisms related to hydrosaline equilibrium and blood pressure regulation. Renal function and blood pressure (group 1) as well as the baroreceptor reflex (group 2) were studied. In group 1, we measured diuresis, natriuresis, creatinine clearance, lithium clearance, and blood pressure in control rats and after stimulation of the cerebroventricular system with 1 M NaCl solution. In group 2, we evaluated the baroreceptor reflex, producing an increase of blood pressure with an injection of phenylephrine to obtain baroreceptor reflex curves--characterized by threshold, point of inflection, heart period range, gain, and systolic pressure corresponding to half the heart period range (SBP50)--in control and experimental rats injected with saline and 1 M NaCl solution, respectively. In group 1 experimental rats, we observed a significant increase in diuresis, natriuresis, blood pressure, and glomerular filtration rate. A substantial increase was also registered in sodium filtered load and reabsorbed sodium in the proximal convoluted tubule and distal nephron. No differences were observed either in fractional proximal tubule or in distal nephron sodium reabsorption. In group 2 experimental rats, mean arterial blood pressure, threshold, point of inflection, and SBP50 were significantly higher than in control rats. By contrast, a decrease in gain and heart period range was observed. No difference was obtained in heart rate. Our results demonstrate that the increase of the natriuresis is due, at least in part, to an increase in sodium filtered load.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)