Using DNA fingerprint analyses, extensive molecular heterogeneity has been found between spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY), suggesting a doubtful value of simply comparing these rats in the study of the pathogenesis of genetic hypertension. Therefore, we evaluated the genetic similarity between Dahl salt-sensitive and salt-resistant rats newly inbred by Dr.Iwai (Dahl-Iwai S and R rats), by use of DNA fingerprint analysis. Fingerprint patterns were generated by probing Hinf I- or Alu I-digested DNA with an oligonucleotide corresponded to the tandem repeat sequence of the human myoglobin 33.6 minisatellite. These fingerprint patterns were same within each strain. S and R rts shared 82 percent of the bands in Hinf I-digested DNA and 93 percent of those in Alu I-digested DNA. Although Dahl-Iwai S and R rats are more closely related than SHR and WKY rats, multiple genetic differences still exist between these Dahl strains.