We studied the role of the sympathetic nervous system in the antihypertensive actions of taurine in DOCA (deoxycorticosterone acetate)-salt hypertensive rats. Supplementation with 1% taurine could moderate the development of the DOCA-salt hypertension. Norepinephrine turnover was measured from the rate of decline of tissue norepinephrine concentration after the administration of alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine. Cardiac and splenic norepinephrine turnover was markedly accelerated in the DOCA-salt rats compared with the vehicle-treated control rats, but the 1% taurine supplements could normalize this. These results suggest that the normalization of the increased sympathetic activity may be involved in the antihypertensive actions of taurine in DOCA-salt hypertensive rats.