1. The acute effects of isatin, an endogenous monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor, on norepinephrine (NE) and serotonin (5-HT) concentrations in the brain of stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) were determined in order to elucidate its pathophysiological role. 2. Isatin was identified in purified extracts of SHRSP brain. 3. A single dose of isatin significantly increased NE concentration in the cerebral cortex of WKY. Isatin also significantly increased 5-HT concentration in WKY brains. 4. After isatin administration NE and 5-HT levels in the SHRSP brain did not differ from those in WKY. 5. These data suggest that isatin, an endogenous MAO inhibitor, presents in the SHRSP brain and maintains high blood pressure.