The sensitivity of the baroreceptor reflex in nine patients with borderline hypertension (mean age 19.1 plus or minus 0.2 years) was compared to that in six normal subjects of comparable age (mean 18.8 plus or minus 0.3 years) and that in 14 patients with established hypertension (mean age 48.3 plus or minus 3.1 years). The sensitivity of the baroreceptor reflex was assessed by determining the slope of the regression line relating the rise of systolic pressure to the prolongation of the R-R Interval during the transient rise of arterial pressure induced by an intravenous injection of phenylephrine. The average baroreceptor slope in nine patients with borderline hypertension was 9.1 plus or minus 0.8 msec/mm Hg, which was significantly less than that in six normal subjects (16.0 plus or minus 2.0; P smaller than 0.01), but was greater than that in 14 patients with established hypertension (4.9 plus or minus 0.7; P smaller than 0.01). The significant negative correlation was found as the baroreceptor slope was related to the mean arterial pressure in patients with borderline hypertension and normal subjects, all of whom were 20 years old or less. Attenuation of the baroreceptor sensitivity may influence the maintenance of raised arterial pressure in borderline hypertension.