Experiments were performed on eight anesthetized dogs to study the response of the characteristic impedance (Zc) of the main pulmonary artery to changes in circulating blood volume. Pressure and flow were measured in the proximal main pulmonary artery under control conditions, after hemorrhage (-15% of the estimated blood volume), again under control conditions, and finally after volume expansion (+30% of the estimated blood volume). Two different methods were used to determine Zc from these recordings. With the frequency-domain method values for Zc were obtained by averaging the input impedance moduli between 2 and 15 Hz. With the time-domain method Zc was derived as the slope of the early ejection pressure-flow relationship. The values for Zc obtained with the two methods were not statistically different. In the time-domain method the average increase in Zc with hemorrhage was 30.7 +/- 7.4 (SE) %, and the average decrease with volume expansion was -21.1 +/- 5.0 (SE) %. Because the time-domain method allowed the values of Zc during control conditions and after hemorrhage to be obtained in the same pressure range, it was concluded that the observed changes were caused by a change in the activity of the smooth muscle in the pulmonary arterial wall. Similarly, it was concluded that the decrease in Zc after volume expansion was active in nature.