1. In order to investigate the role of renal dopamine and sympathetic activity in the natriuretic response to oral sodium loading in Chinese subjects, we studied the effects of two different sodium intakes (20 followed by 220 mmol day-1 each given for 5 days) on mean arterial pressure (MAP) and the urinary excretion of sodium, dopamine (DA) and noradrenaline (NA) in eight healthy subjects. 2. MAP did not change. There was an eight- to ninefold increase in sodium excretion (P < 0.01). An 8-17% increase in urinary DA (P < 0.05) over the first 3 days, and a 22% decrease in urine NA (P < 0.05) on the last day of the high sodium intake were seen. 3. The relatively small increase in urinary DA, despite an eleven-fold increase in sodium intake from a state of marked sodium deprivation, may suggest that, in healthy Chinese subjects, the renal DA mechanism only contributes partly to the acute natriuretic response. Furthermore, the renal DA response appeared to be attenuated during the period of high sodium intake. 4. There is no evidence from the present study that a reduction in sympathetic activity plays an important role in the acute natriuretic response to sodium loading in this group of subjects.