Loop diuretics like furosemide have been shown to cause renal vasodilatation in dogs and humans, an effect thought to result from both a direct vascular dilator effect and from inhibition of tubuloglomerular feedback. In isolated perfused afferent arterioles preconstricted with angiotensin II or N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, furosemide caused a dose-dependent increase of vascular diameter, but it was without effect in vessels from NKCC1-/- mice suggesting that inhibition of NKCC1 mediates dilatation in afferent arterioles. In the intact kidney, however, furosemide (2 mg/kg iv) caused a 50.5 +/- 3% reduction of total renal blood flow (RBF) and a 27% reduction of superficial blood flow (SBF) accompanied by a marked and immediate increase of tubular pressure and volume. At 10 mg/kg, furosemide reduced RBF by 60.4 +/- 2%. Similarly, NKCC1-/- mice responded to furosemide with a 45.4% decrease of RBF and a 29% decrease of SBF. Decreases in RBF and SBF and increases of tubular pressure by furosemide were ameliorated by renal decapsulation. In addition, pretreatment with candesartan (2 mg/kg) or indomethacin (5 mg/kg) attenuated the reduction of RBF and peak urine flows caused by furosemide. Our data indicate that furosemide, despite its direct vasodilator potential in isolated afferent arterioles, causes a marked increase in flow resistance of the vascular bed of the intact mouse kidney. We suggest that generation of angiotensin II and/or a vasoconstrictor prostaglandin combined with compression of peritubular capillaries by the expanding tubular compartment are responsible for the reduction of RBF in vivo.