Proximal tubular cells were loaded for 10 s with [3H]para-aminohippurate ([3H]PAH) by microperfusing the peritubular capillaries with Ringer solution containing 0.05 mmol/l PAH. Immediately thereafter [3H]PAH influx from cells into a column of equilibrium solution injected into the oil-filled tubular lumen was measured by re-aspirating the fluid after 1-10 s of contact time. The rise of luminal PAH concentration within 2 s of contact time was almost linear, reaching a luminal/capillary concentration ratio of 1.6 after 2 s and of 3.2 after 5 s. The 2-s PAH concentration ratio was not changed when different manoeuvres were applied to depolarize proximal tubular cells. Also, the 2-s PAH concentration ratio was not influenced by varying the luminal pH from 6.0 to 8.0 or the luminal Cl- concentration from zero to 134 mmol/l or when either 5 mmol/l urate or 25 mmol/l lactate was in the luminal perfusate. A decrease in the 2-s PAH concentration ratio, i.e. trans-inhibition, was observed when 25 or 50 mmol/l HCO3- (-50%) was in the luminal perfusate. Trans-inhibition was also seen with 5 mmol/l of the following substituted benzoates: 2-hydroxy-benzoate (-58%), 2-methoxy-benzoate (-46%), 2-hydroxy-benzoate-acetyl ester (-36%), 2-hydroxy-3,5-dinitro-benzoate (-48%), 3,5-dichloro-benzoate (-49%), and 2,3,5-trichloro-benzoate (-45%). No effect was seen with benzoate, 3-hydroxy-benzoate, 2-chloro-benzoate, 2-nitro-benzoate, 2,5-dinitro-benzoate, 3-sulfamoyl-benzoate and 4-sulfamoyl-benzoate. However, analogues of the latter two compounds possessing two additional side groups, such as furosemide and piretanide, or a hydrophobic moiety, such as probenecid, were inhibitory (by -62, -41 and -49% respectively). Phenoxyacetate had no effect; however, it inhibited if in addition it had three chloro groups, as in 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetate (-71%) or a hydrophobic carbamoyl side group, as in mersalylic acid (salyrgan, -75%). Benzene-sulfonate trans-inhibited (-33%), as did phenolsulfonphthalein (phenol red, -39%) and sulfofluorescein (-55%). However, the trans-inhibitory effect of the corresponding carboxy-compounds was absent (phenolphthalein) or weaker (fluorescein, -42%). The trans-inhibitory effect of the uricosurics ethacrynic acid (-53%), tienilic acid (-55%) indacrinone (-72%) and benzbromarone (-42%) could be attributed to two chloro or bromo side groups on the benzene ring. Other trans-inhibiting uricosuric substances were indomethacin (-42%), sulfinpyrazone (-38%), losartan (-80%) its metabolite EXP 3174 (-55%), and AA 193 (-65%). These organic acids, with pKa values between 2.8 and 4.9, possess chloro and sulfin groups, as well as heterocyclic 5-ring and hydrophobic ring or chain areas. No significant effect was seen with 5 mmol/l PAH, 2-oxo-glutarate, DIDS, cGMP, prostaglandin E2, cortisol, benzylamiloride, pyrazinoic acid and 25 mmol/l lactate. Our data indicate that in situ the secretory luminal PAH transport proceeds in a non-rheogenic fashion, per exclusionem by anion exchange. The observed trans-inhibition of PAH secretion seems to correlate with the affinity for the luminal PAH transporter and, for uricosuric substances, with their uricosuric potency.