Changes in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and in regional vascular resistance (RVR, hindquarter, mesenteric and renal) induced by microinjection of L.-glutamate into three different antero-posterior coordinates of the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) [1,200-1,600 microm (n=10), 1,601-2,000 microm (n=12) and 2,001-2,500 microm (n=6) rostral to the obex] were investigated in unanesthetized rats. Guide cannulas directed towards the RVLM were implanted 4 days prior to the experiments. Doppler probes were implanted around the superior mesenteric, inferior abdominal aorta and left renal arteries and a catheter was inserted into the femoral artery and vein 1 day prior to the experiments. Insertion of the injector into the RVLM produced an increase in baseline MAP, which was back to control levels 2 min later, when L-glutamate was microinjected. Microinjection of L-glutamate (1 nmol/30 nl) into the three antero-posterior coordinates of the RVLM produced an increase in MAP associated with a similar increase in hindquarter, mesenteric and renal vascular resistance, which were back to control 1 min later. Saline into the RVLM produced negligible effects on MAP and RVR. These findings suggest that the sympathetic vasomotor neurons involved in the regulation of the regional vascular resistance in rats are not topographically distributed in the antero-posterior coordinates of the RVLM. However, the experimental methods used to evaluate the topographic distribution of sympatho-vasomotor neurons in the RVLM and the measurement of the regional blood flow may not be precise enough to detect any possible differences.