Recent studies have shown that atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) alone or combined with dopamine (D) markedly improved renal function when given immediately after an ischemic insult. However, the potential beneficial effect of ANP or ANP-D in the established phase of acute renal failure (ARF) and the duration of this effect have not been examined. In the present study atriopeptin III (APIII) and D, sufficient to maintain mean arterial pressure between 100 and 110 mm Hg, or normal saline were given i.v. for four hours to awake Munich-Wistar rats (N = 6 each group) two days after ARF induction with intrarenal norepinephrine (NE). Renal function and morphology were then examined two days after treatment (Day 4). Serum creatinine (SCr) was similarly increased in both groups at the time of APIII-D or saline infusion (Day 2). By Day 4 SCr had decreased to the pre-ARF induction level in APIII-D-treated rats (P less than 0.005), but continued to rise in saline-treated animals (P less than 0.025). Day 4 renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were higher in APIII-D-compared to the saline-treated group (9.13 +/- 1.14 vs. 4.41 +/- 2.25 ml/min and 0.787 +/- 0.066 vs. 0.370 +/- 0.185 ml/min, respectively, both P less than 0.005).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)