Quantitative autoradiography revealed large numbers of angiotensin-II (AT) receptors in the 18-day-old rat embryo. The selective AT-1 antagonist DuP 753 readily competed for AT receptors in liver, lung parenchyma, and choroid plexus, and these receptors are classified as AT-1 receptors. The selective AT-2 displacers CGP 42112 A and/or PD 123177 competed with high affinity with AT bound to most receptors located in skeletal muscle, skin, diaphragm, bronchi, and stomach, and these receptors are classified as AT-2 receptors. The amount of AT-2 receptors in fetal tissues was more than 10-fold higher than that of AT-1 receptors. In skeletal muscle and skin, DuP 753 competed with AT in the presence of 10⁷ M CGP 42112 A, indicating the presence of small numbers of AT-1 receptors. In liver and lung parenchyma, binding to AT-1 receptors was sensitive to guanine nucleotides. AT binding to AT-2 receptors in fetal skin and skeletal muscle was insensitive to guanine nucleotides. AT stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis in liver (ED₅₀) 64 nM) and in skin and skeletal muscle (ED₆₀, 62 nM); this was inhibited by DuP 753 (liver IC₅₀, 38 nM; skin and skeletal muscle IC₅₀, 26 nM), but not by PD 123177 in concentrations up to the micromolar range. AT-1 receptors are probably coupled to G-proteins, and their stimulation increases phos-phoinositide hydrolysis. AT-2 receptors may not be linked to G-proteins, their stimulation is not associated with phosphoinositide hydrolysis, and the nature of their second messenger system(s) is presently unknown.