This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism of the hypotensive effect of bromocriptine (BRC), and to investigate whether or not the effects of BRC on the sympathetic nervous system are altered in hypertension. BRC was administered intravenously to normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). It elicited hypotensive effects dose-dependently in urethane-anaesthetized normotensive rats, an effect which was antagonized with metoclopramide. Pretreatment with intravenous hexamethonium attenuated the hypotensive effect of BRC. BRC decreased plasma norepinephrine (NE) without inhibiting the sympathetic nerve spikes recorded from the postganglionic sympathetic nerve bundle. The hypotensive effect of BRC was significantly greater in SHR than in Wistar Kyoto Rats (WKY). Decrease in NE by BRC was also significantly greater in SHR than in WKY. These results suggest that the hypotensive effect of BRC is induced by suppression of NE release, not by inhibition of sympathetic nerve spikes, and that the dopaminergic presynaptic inhibition is attenuated in SHR.