To characterize quantitatively the relationships among pulmonary vascular pressures (P) and cardiac output (Q) in conscious dogs, multipoint plots of pulmonary arterial (PAP), pulmonary capillary wedge (PCWP), PAP - PCWP, and left atrial (LAP) pressure versus Q were generated by graded constriction of the thoracic inferior vena cava (IVC) to vary Q. Slopes and extrapolated pressure intercepts from linear regression fits to the P/Q plots were determined for three inspired oxygen tensions: normoxia, hyperoxia, and hypoxia. During normoxia (arterial Po2 87 +/- 1 Torr), the extrapolated pressure intercepts for PAP, PCWP, and PAP - PCWP were virtually 0 mmHg, and for LAP, substantially negative (-5.5 +/- 1.1 mmHg; P less than 0.01). Hyperoxia (Po2 365 +/- 28 Torr) had no effect on any of the P/Q plots. In contrast, hypoxia (Po2 51 +/- 1 Torr) significantly increased the intercepts (P less than 0.01) as well as the slopes (P less than 0.05) of PAP and PAP - PCWP versus Q, but produced only minor changes in PCWP and LAP versus Q. These hypoxia-induced changes in intercepts, perhaps related to changes in critical closing pressures, demonstrate the limitations of pulmonary vascular resistance calculations (quotient of pressure gradient and Q) in quantifying changes in pulmonary vasomotor tone. In this way, the IVC constriction technique provides a more complete description of P/Q relationships than that permitted by simple calculations of pulmonary vascular resistance. We conclude that this technique can be utilized to investigate the effects of other physiological and pharmacological interventions on pulmonary vasomotor tone in conscious dogs.