Plasma angiotensinogen (Ao) concentration (PAC), urinary Ao excretion (UAE), hepatic levels of Ao mRNA and plasma renin concentration (PRC) were studied in control and nephrotic rats subjected to the following treatments: dexamethasone (DEX), ethinyl-estradiol (EE), tri-iodothyronine (T3), bilateral nephrectomy (NX), captopril (CAP) and adrenalectomy (ADX). In nephrotic rats PAC diminished, UAE and PRC augmented and Ao mRNA levels were not altered. In control rats, DEX, EE, T3 and NX increased PAC and Ao mRNA levels whereas CAP diminished PAC but not affected Ao mRNA. ADX diminished PAC and Ao mRNA levels. In nephrotic rats, these treatments produced the same effect than in control rats except in ADX which did not affect PAC. These data suggest that the decreased PAC is not related to alterations in hepatic Ao gene expression but to elevated PRC and UAE.