Glomerular responses to angiotensin II (AII), arginine vasopressin (AVP), and norepinephrine (NE) were estimated in rabbits recovering from uranium-mediated nephropathy or ischemic acute renal failure (ARF) to examine roles of intraglomerular events in resistance to ARF. Uranyl acetate (UA, 0.8 mg/kg) produced ARF in some animals but did not in others. Rabbits recovering from UA-induced ARF were highly resistant to a rechallenge with a larger dose of the agent (2 mg/kg). Their glomeruli did not respond to AII, AVP and NE in vitro. In animals having not experienced ARF following the initial insult, however, resistance to the rechallenge was lower than in animals recovering from ARF, and the glomerular response to contractile stimuli was well sustained. A two hour clamping of the renal artery induced ARF in uninephrectomized rabbits. These animals were not resistant to an additional ischemia in the recovery phase, despite inhibited glomerular contractile responses to AII. These data indicate a nonspecific inhibition of glomerular responses to contractile stimuli in the recovery phase of ARF. It is unlikely, however, that resistance to ARF can be attributed to the loss of the glomerular contractile response.