We evaluated the involvement of circulating kinins in the hypotensive effect of the antihypertensive drug alpha-methyldopa (alpha-MD) in normotensive rats. 2. The alpha-MD effects were more pronounced in urethane-anesthetized rats than in unanesthetized animals. 3. Treatment with alpha-MD did not affect the circulating levels of kininogen, the bradykinin precursor. 4. Pretreatment with captopril that potentiates the depressor effects of bradykinin did not potentiate the hypotension to alpha-MD. 5. The lack of changes in kininogen levels and the failure of captopril to potentiate the depressor effects of alpha-MD rules out an involvement of the circulating kallikrein-kinin system in the response to alpha-MD.