Electron microprobe analysis on freeze-dried cryosections was used to determine the effect of the loop diuretics torasemide and furosemide on intracellular electrolyte concentrations in individual cells of the outer and inner stripe of the outer medulla and on cell rubidium uptake, the latter a measure of basolateral Na-K-ATPase activity. In addition, the organic osmolytes glycerophosphorylcholine (GPC), betaine, inositol and sorbitol in cortex, outer medulla and inner medulla were measured using HPLC. Both loop diuretics significantly reduced sodium and chloride concentrations and rubidium uptake in thick ascending limb cells, but did not affect sodium concentration or rubidium uptake in the proximal straight tubule (PST) cells or in the light or dark cells of the outer medullary collecting duct (OMCD). Chloride concentrations in these cells (that is, PST cells, OMCD light and dark cells) were lowered by loop diuretics, albeit less than in thick ascending limb cells. Administration of both loop diuretics for only 20 minutes was sufficient to significantly depress tissue concentrations of GPC, betaine, and myo-inositol in the outer medulla and of GPC, betaine and sorbitol at the papillary tip. These results indicate that loop diuretics, presumably by blocking apical sodium entry, decrease thick ascending limb cellular sodium concentration and, as a consequence, reduce Na-K-ATPase activity as assessed by cell rubidium uptake. Although this has been shown previously in in vitro preparations, the present study confirms this for the first time in vivo.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)