Plasma levels of immunoreactive atrial natriuretic factor (IR-ANF) were evaluated by radioimmunoassay in several models of experimental hypertension and in human hypertension. Plasma levels of IR-ANF are consistently increased in all models of experimental hypertension studied so far. This is accompanied by a decrease of IR-ANF levels in the left atrium at certain times. Plasma levels of IR-ANF are not increased in human essential hypertension, except in the severe form (diastolic blood pressure above 110 mmHg). Peripheral levels of IR-ANF in renovascular hypertension do not differ from normal but are increased above normal in aortic blood.