The aim of this study was to investigate nitric oxide (NO) production and L-NAME-sensitive component of endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in adult normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY), borderline hypertensive rats (BHR) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Blood pressure (BP) of WKY, BHR and SHR (determined by tail-cuff) was 111+/-3, 140+/-4 and 184+/-6 mm Hg, respectively. NO synthase activity (determined by conversion of [(3)H]-L-arginine) was significantly higher in the aorta of BHR and SHR vs. WKY and in the left ventricle of SHR vs. both BHR and WKY. L-NAME-sensitive component of endothelium-dependent relaxation was investigated in the preconstricted femoral arteries using the wire myograph during isometric conditions as a difference between acetylcholine-induced relaxation before and after acute N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester pre-treatment (L-NAME, 10(-5) mol/l). Acetylcholine-induced vasorelaxation of SHR was significantly greater than that in WKY. L-NAME-sensitive component of vasorelaxation in WKY, BHR and SHR was 20+/-3 %, 29+/-4 % (p<0.05 vs. WKY) and 37+/-3 % (p<0.05 vs. BHR), respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between BP and L-NAME-sensitive component of relaxation of the femoral artery. In conclusion, results suggest the absence of endothelial dysfunction in the femoral artery of adult borderline and spontaneously hypertensive rats and gradual elevation of L-NAME-sensitive component of vasorelaxation with increasing blood pressure.