The renin inhibitor CGP 29,287 was administered continuously for 7 days (30 mg/kg per day, intraperitoneally, via osmotic minipumps) to normotensive marmosets fed a low-salt diet. As a control, another group of marmosets was given vehicle only. After 7 days of treatment, the mean arterial blood pressure of the CGP 29,287-treated marmosets was significantly lowered by about 23 mmHg. Plasma immunoreactive total and active renin were increased 10- and sevenfold, respectively, whereas plasma renin activity (PRA) was reduced by 95%. Plasma angiotensin II (Ang II) and aldosterone were also reduced (by 97 and 85%, respectively). Serum angiotensin converting enzyme activity was unchanged and there were no differences in plasma concentrations of electrolytes, urea or creatinine between CGP 29,287-treated and control marmosets. These results indicate that although renin release is markedly stimulated after continuous administration of a renin inhibitor for 7 days, the formation of Ang II and aldosterone, the active hormones of the renin-angiotensin system, is substantially reduced.