Arterial blood pressure and renal function of both clipped and non-clipped kidneys of benign two-kidney, one clip (2K1C) Goldblatt hypertension were evaluated in order to determine whether high-salt intake alters the course of the development and magnitude of hypertension or influences renal function. The administration of 0.9% sodium chloride as a drinking solution for 3 weeks suppressed plasma renin activity (PRA) and kidney renin content of the clipped kidney to normal values. Despite suppression of PRA and kidney renin content, the saline-drinking clipped rats still developed hypertension of the same magnitude as the water-drinking clipped rats. However, the onset of hypertension was delayed by 4 days. Urine flow, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and sodium excretion rate from the clipped kidneys of the saline-drinking clipped rats were higher than the corresponding values in the water-drinking rats, and approached those observed in control animals. Thus, the high-salt intake which was associated with suppression of the activity of the renin-angiotensin system delayed the onset of, but not the final magnitude of, the hypertension. In addition, kidney function in the clipped kidneys of saline-drinking clipped rats was enhanced compared with that observed in the water-drinking clipped rats.