Plasma renin (PRC) and aldosterone concentrations are known to be high during early postnatal life. Whether this is related to the low rates of renal blood flow or to sodium homeostasis remains unknown. Measurement of PRC, renal blood flow, and its intrarenal distribution were performed in 1- to 3-wk-old puppies subjected to maneuvers known to stimulate or inhibit renin release. In the awake state, PRC was observed to be higher in 2-wk-old puppies than in older or younger dogs, (P less than 0.0001). Significant differences in PRC were also found between litters (P less than 0.0001), but they did not account for the age-related changes. Anesthesia resulted in a 3- to 5-fold rise in PRC, whereas saline expansion suppressed PRC at all ages, the fall tending to become progressively greater with age (P less than 0.09). There was no significant correlation between the age-related changes in PRC and those in renal blood flow or its intrarenal distribution. The results of these experiments demonstrate that in the newborn from a qualitative point of view, PRC changes appropriately in response to various stimuli. However, quantitative age-related differences exist in this regard, reflecting an initial immaturity of the feedback system.