To determine whether differential release of nitric oxide underlies the diversity of regional kidney blood flow responses to vasoactive agents, this study examined how nitric oxide synthase blockade with IV N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA), and also IV L-NNA plus co-infusion of glyceryl trinitrate, affected responses to renal arterial boluses and infusions of vasoactive agents. L-NNA, but not vehicle, or L-NNA plus glyceryl trinitrate, increased mean arterial pressure (35%) and reduced renal blood flow (20%), cortical perfusion (11%), and medullary perfusion (54%). L-NNA plus glyceryl trinitrate, but not L-NNA alone, blunted renal vasodilatation in response to boluses of bradykinin and acetylcholine, abolished increased medullary perfusion after bolus angiotensin II, and enhanced reductions in medullary perfusion, and to a lesser extent those in renal blood flow and cortical perfusion, during norepinephrine infusion. Neither L-NNA, nor L-NNA plus glyceryl trinitrate, affected responses to infusions of angiotensin II, [Phe(2),Ile(3),Orn(8)]-vasopressin, or endothelin-1. The data indicate roles for nitric oxide in angiotensin II-induced increases in medullary perfusion and in protecting medullary perfusion from norepinephrine-induced vasoconstriction. However, differential engagement of nitric oxide synthase cannot completely account for the diversity of responses of regional kidney perfusion to vasoactive agents. Effects of nitric oxide synthase blockade on renal vascular responses to vasoactive agents were revealed only when glyceryl trinitrate was co-infused to restore resting nitrergic vasodilator tone. This may reflect interactions between nitric oxide and other vasodilator mediators, in modulating renal hemodynamic responses to vasoactive agents.