The activity of lysyl oxidase which catalyzes the initial step of cross-linking of collagen and elastin polypeptides was measured in blood vessels of the hypertensive rat. The enzyme activity was increased in the aorta and mesenteric artery when hypertension was induced in 8-week-old rats with administration of deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) and 1% saline. Reserpine diminished this increase in vascular lysyl oxidase activity concomitant with reduction in blood pressure. When beta-aminopropionitrile, a specific inhibitor of lysyl oxidase, was administered before the onset of DOCA-salt hypertension, the aortic collagen content was reduced markedly. Concomitant with reduction in the aortic collagen content, the development of hypertension and arteriosclerotic changes in the kidney was partially prevented. These results would indicate that hypertension increases the amount and the degree of cross-linking of vascular collagen and that the deposition of excess collagen in the vascular wall contributes to the development of hypertension and arteriosclerosis.