The excess renal sodium retention leading to edema formation in the nephrotic syndrome (NS) is substantially dependent on increased efferent renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA). This study examined whether the hypoalbuminemia in NS is reflected as a decrease in cardiac output or cardiac function and whether the increased RSNA in NS is due to alterations in arterial and/or cardiopulmonary baroreflex function. NS was induced in rats with adriamycin (3.5 mg/kg i.v.), and they were studied 4 wk after injection. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was similar in control (C) and NS rats. Cardiac indexes (CIs; cardiac output/body wt) were 29 +/- 1 and 26 +/- 1 ml.min-1.100 g-1 in C and NS rats, respectively. Total peripheral resistance indexes were significantly greater in NS than in C rats (4.7 +/- 0.2 vs. 4.1 +/- 0.1 mmHg.100 g.min.ml-1). Cardiac function during increases in cardiac filling pressure was not different between C and NS rats. The afferent limb of the arterial baroreflex was assessed by measuring aortic depressor nerve activity (ADNA) while the efferent limb was assessed by measuring RSNA in C and NS rats during increases in MAP. The central component of the arterial baroreflex was assessed from plots of RSNA (output) vs. ADNA (input). Comparisons between C and NS rats before and after vagotomy revealed no differences in the gains of any component of the arterial baroreflex. The cardiopulmonary baroreflex was assessed in a similar manner by measuring afferent vagus nerve activity (VGNA) and efferent RSNA during volume expansion before and after sinoaortic denervation (SAD). Before SAD, gains were similar in C and NS rats. After SAD, gains of the total (-1.59 +/- 0.44 vs. -3.64 +/- 0.65%/mmHg) and the central/efferent limb (-0.26 +/- 0.07 vs. -0.67 +/- 0.14 %/%) were significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in NS compared with C rats while the gain of the afferent limb of the reflex was similar in C and NS rats. These results indicate that NS rats with significant hypoalbuminemia maintain an arterial pressure similar to C rats by increasing total peripheral resistance, which serves to offset the tendency to a lower CI. Arterial baroreflex function in NS does not differ from that in C, but decreased cardiopulmonary baroreflex inhibition of RSNA in NS may contribute to the increased RSNA.