Inhibition of endothelium-dependent relaxation by NG-monomethyl L-arginine (L-NMMA) and its reversal by excess L- but not D-arginine is used to support the hypothesis that the endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) is generated exclusively from the metabolism of L-arginine. However, in freshly isolated vascular tissues, L-arginine is a poor vasodilator when compared to the N-substituted arginine compound, N alpha-benzoyl L-arginine ethyl ester (BAEE). Here, we show that such N-substituted compounds are potent hypotensive agents in anesthetized rats. In contrast, L-arginine elicits hypotensive effect only at higher concentrations (greater than 100 mg/kg). This effect of L-arginine is not antagonized by L-NMMA. Furthermore, D-arginine, L-homoarginine and L-lysine also have hypotensive effects at these concentrations. Indomethacin treatment partially attenuates the hypotensive effects of the basic amino acids. In contrast, the hypotensive effect of BAEE is antagonized by L-NMMA in a dose-dependent manner and by methylene blue, which is an inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase. In addition, substitution at the arginine moiety determines the hypotensive effect. When the amino acid glycine is inserted between the benzoyl group and arginine as in benzoyl-glycine-arginine, significant attenuation of the hypotensive effect is observed. These data demonstrate that compounds such as BAEE generate an EDRF-like agent in vivo and basic amino acids such as L-arginine elicit hypotension at concentrations above 100 mg/kg by mechanisms other than the generation of EDRF.