In contrast to the postocclusive hyperemia of brain, heart, and skeletal muscle, the hemodynamic response of the kidney following renal artery occlusion is highly variable in that both hyperemia and ischemia have been reported. The present study evaluates the factors influencing the renal response to complete renal artery occlusion (5-60 s) in the anesthetized cat. Marked postocclusive vasoconstriction could only be domonstrated in meclofenamate-treated (10 mg/kg) cats. The delta% renal blood flow (RBF) (30-s occlusion) was 16 +/- 4 in controls and 54 +/- 4 after meclofenamate (n= 10; P less than 0.001). Chronic denervation of the kidney, alpha-adrenergic receptor blockade, or infusion of [Sar1, Ile8]angiotensin II(2 microgram/min per kg) did not affect the postocclusive reduction of RBF, indicating that the vasoconstriction was independent of renal nerves, catecholamines, and circulating angiotesin II. Adenosine injected into the renal artery of five cats caused a dose-dependent transient fall of RBF. A dose of 100 nmol adenosine reduced RBF by 44 +/- 6% whereas after meclofenamate only 1 nmol produced the same degree of vasoconstriction. In summary, this study demonstrates a marked potentiation of the postocclusive vasoconstrictor response and the vasoconstrictive action of adenosine by meclofenamate in the anesthetized animal. No evidence was obtained to support a role for the sympathetic nervous system or circulating angiotensin II in mediating the postocclusive vasoconstriction.