The effects of endothelins (ET) on guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) levels in intact rat glomeruli were examined. ET-3 produced a rapid approximately fivefold increase in cGMP levels with the maximum effect occurring at 1 min. The ET-3-induced increase in cGMP accumulation occurred in the absence and presence of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine. ET-1, ET-2, ET-3, and the structurally related toxin, sarafotoxin S6c, all increased glomerular cGMP levels in a concentration-dependent manner and with similar potencies (EC50 approximately 15-30 nM). The L-arginine analogue, N omega-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA), reduced basal levels of cGMP and also totally inhibited ET-induced increases in cGMP as did methylene blue, an inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase. The effect of L-NNA was attenuated by L-arginine but not by D-arginine. The stimulation of cGMP accumulation by ET-3 was dependent on extracellular Ca2+ and was additive to atriopeptin III but not to acetylcholine. The ETA-selective antagonist, BQ 123, had no effect on ET-3-induced formation of cGMP. Glomerular membranes displayed high-affinity (Kd = 130-150 pM) and high-density (approximately 2.0 pmol/mg) binding sites for 125I-ET-1 and 125I-ET-3. ET-1, ET-3, and sarafotoxin S6c displaced 125I-ET-1 binding to glomerular membranes with similar affinities. BQ 123 had no effect on 125I-ET-1 binding. We conclude that ET increases cGMP levels in glomeruli by stimulating the formation of a nitric oxide-like factor that activates soluble guanylate cyclase. This effect of ET appears to be mediated by activation of ETB receptors and may serve to modulate the contractile effects of ET.