To examine the possible role of NO in macula densa control of renin secretion, we examined the effects of varying NO availability on renin release in the isolated perfused rabbit juxtaglomerular apparatus (JGA). Gradual increments of luminal Na/Cl concentration ratio (mM/mM) from 26/7 over 46/27, 66/47, to 86/67 caused a progressive decrease in renin secretion from (as log of nano-Goldblatt hog units vs. time, i.e., log nGU/min) 1.09 +/- 0.34 to 0.46 +/- 0.24 log nGU/min, with the greatest change occurring at the first concentration step. The presence of 0.7 mM N omega-nitro-L-arginine (NNA), an NO synthase inhibitor, in the luminal fluid significantly reduced renin secretion at the lowest Na/Cl concentration ratio to 0.65 +/- 0.32 log nGU/min (P < 0.01 compared with control). Renin secretion at the higher Na/Cl concentration ratios was not significantly affected by NNA compared with control. In contrast to these results, the addition of the NO donor nitroprusside (1 mM) to the bath caused a reduction in renin secretion from 1.0 +/- 0.39 to 0.47 +/- 0.46 log nGU/min (P < 0.05), an effect that was reversed by bath addition of 0.01 mM methylene blue. Similarly, addition of L-arginine (0.7 mM) to the bath reduced renin secretion from 0.99 +/- 0.37 to 0.81 +/- 0.38 log nGU/min (P < 0.01), whereas addition of L-arginine to the luminal fluid increased renin secretion from 0.85 +/- 0.43 to 1.94 +/- 0.46 log nGU/min (P < 0.05). The stimulatory effect of luminal L-arginine was reversed by the luminal addition of NNA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)