In vivo fluorescence microscopy was used for experimental studies of renal cortical microcirculation in 46 mice. The cortical circulation was studied after i.v. infusions of mannitol of various osmolalities as well as nonionic low osmolar (iohexol) and ionic high osmolar (metrizoate) contrast media. All infusions produced an increase in the number of capillaries with increased blood flow, significantly more pronounced after the infusion of iohexol, metrizoate and mannitol 1.46 mol/l than after the infusion of mannitol 0.3 mol/l. However, the renal cortical blood flow was inhomogeneous with respect to different capillaries. While the blood flow was increased in some capillaries it was to some extent simultaneously decreased in others, significantly more after infusion of metrizoate than after infusion of mannitol 0.3 mol/l.