The present study was designed to investigate the renal responses to hypotensive haemorrhage early in life and the role of renal sympathetic nerves in modulating these renal responses. To this end, experiments were carried out in conscious, chronically instrumented lambs with either intact renal nerves (n = 7, Intact) or bilateral renal denervation performed at the time of surgery (n = 5, Denervated). Parameters of renal function were measured before and after 20 % haemorrhage (experiment 1) and 0 % haemorrhage (experiment 2), the latter serving as a time control. The two experiments were performed in random order at intervals of 24-48 h. Within 20 min of hypotensive haemorrhage in intact lambs, glomerular filtration rate decreased by ~60 %; this response was not altered by renal denervation. Since renal plasma flow remained constant after haemorrhage, the filtration fraction also decreased. After 20 % haemorrhage, urinary flow rate decreased in intact lambs; this response was also not altered by renal denervation. Excretion rates of Na+ and K+ as well as urinary osmolality and free water clearance were not altered by haemorrhage in either intact or denervated lambs. These data provide the first description of renal responses to haemorrhage early in life. In addition, the present findings provide new information that renal responses to haemorrhage early in life do not appear to be modulated by renal sympathetic nerves. Experimental Physiology (2002) 87.5, 557-562.