Our previous study demonstrated that volume expansion with dextran produced blood pressure elevation due to vasoconstriction 3 hours after the cessation of infusion. To examine whether endogenous endothelin contributes to this vasoconstriction, we measured plasma level of endothelin before, immediately after, and 3 hours after the administration of dextran. Plasma level of endothelin decreased immediately after the administration (from 1.5 +/- 0.3 pg/ml to 1.1 +/- 0.2 pg/ml, P less than 0.05), and increased 3 hours after the administration (2.1 +/- 0.3 pg/ml, P less than 0.05). However, the changes in the plasma level of endothelin did not significantly correlated with those in blood pressure or total peripheral resistance. Thus, vasoconstriction after dextran infusion was accompanied by an increase in the plasma level of endothelin, but further evaluation is needed for the direct role of this peptide in the vasoconstrictive blood pressure elevation.