Effects of saline infusion and blood removal on atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in normal subjects were examined in order to better define the magnitude of acute central volume regulatory influences on ANP. 2. Plasma ANP levels increased progressively during volume expansion with saline infusion, increasing by 18% after 30 min and by 93% after 120 min, and did not change during recumbency alone. 3. Plasma ANP levels immediately after a standard blood donation performed semirecumbent were significantly lower than before blood donation; they fell by 18%. 4. The magnitude of the fall in ANP induced by blood donation correlated significantly with basal plasma ANP. 5. In man, ANP responds to both increases and decreases in central blood volume, consistent with a role for ANP in blood volume homeostasis.