We have investigated the effect of varying sodium intake on the renin-angiotensin system, ADP-induced platelet aggregation in vitro, and blood 5-HT concentrations in 9 male volunteers. Systolic blood pressure was slightly reduced during a low sodium diet, whereas the diastolic pressure remained unchanged. Plasma renin activity and aldosterone concentration both fell significantly when sodium intake was increased; plasma angiotensin II concentration also fell, but not significantly. There was a significant fall in haematocrit after an increased sodium intake, but there was no change in the whole-blood platelet count after correcting for this. There were no significant changes in either total (i.e. PRP) or platelet 5-HT concentrations. The extent of platelet aggregation induced by 5 and 20 mumol.l-1 of ADP increased significantly when dietary sodium intake was increased. When compared with low or normal sodium intakes, lower concentrations of ADP were required to produce 50% of maximum aggregation after a high sodium intake. The 5-HT2 receptor antagonist ketanserin (1 mumol.l-1 in vitro) reduced the extent of aggregation induced by 5 mumol.l-1 ADP after the volunteers had taken a high sodium diet, whereas the angiotensin II receptor antagonist saralasin (1 nmol.l-1) increased the rate of aggregation after the low sodium diet. Thus, during a high sodium intake, human platelets become more sensitive to the aggregating agent ADP. It is possible that this effect is mediated via platelet 5-HT2 receptors, since ketanserin abolished the increase in salt-induced aggregation seen with 5 mumol.l-1 ADP.