1. The effects of a single oral dose of enalapril 10 mg on serum ACE activity and blood pressure in relation to the ACE genotype were studied in 27 healthy men, n = 9 each of genotype DD, ID and II, in a parallel group study design. 2. Before treatment serum ACE activity differed significantly between the genotypes, with serum ACE activity 56% higher in DD than II subjects, and the genotype explaining 40% of between-subject variance in serum ACE activity. 3. After oral enalapril 10 mg the absolute fall in serum ACE activity was significantly larger in DD than II subjects at 2, 4, and 6 h (by 9.0 (95% CI 0.7-17.2), 10.7 (3.8-17.6), and 9.7 (2.8-16.6) nmol ml-1 min-1 respectively), but not at 24 h (fall in II > DD by 1.1 (-8.9 to 6.7) nmol ml-1 min-1). 4. Serum ACE activity remained significantly related to the ACE genotype at each time-point after enalapril, with the genotype explaining 22-46% of between-subject variance in serum ACE. 5. Falls in mean arterial pressure in response to enalapril were not significantly related to the ACE genotype, with the average fall over 6 h in DD > II genotype by 0.7 mm Hg (95% CI -5.5 to 4.1). 6. Blood pressure responses to enalapril did not correlate significantly with the initial serum ACE, or the absolute or percent reductions in serum ACE activity after enalapril.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)