Uninephrectomized ewes were prepared with a renal artery flow probe and catheters were implanted into the renal artery, vein, and ureter. The renal perfusion pressure (RPP) of conscious animals was decreased externally by 13 +/- 3, 21 +/- 3, 31 +/- 3 mmHg over 5 min and returned to control levels over 5 min. Reduction of RPP by 13 and 21 mmHg resulted in prompt increases in renin secretion (RS) which were maximal coincident with the nadir of the downward ramp (delta RS 195 +/- 43 P less than 0.05, and 1,077 +/- 208 ng AI/min, P less than 0.01, respectively). Directly measured renal blood flow (RBF) was not decreased and no measurable change occured in GFR. When RPP was reduced by 31 mmHg, RBF and GFR were decreased and renin secretion rose further (delta RS 1,480 +/- 384 AI/min, P less than 0.05). On the upward pressure ramp, RS fell promptly and was nearly at control levels upon restoration of RPP. It was concluded that renin secretion responds rapidly to alterations in RPP in the autoregulatory range and these changes in renin secretion are unlikely to be mediated by a tubular receptor.