Phosphate deprivation causes a resistance to the phosphaturic effect of parathyroid hormone. The decreased phosphaturic response to parathyroid hormone in rats fed a low phosphate diet for 1 day can be restored by propranolol infusion. Free-flow micropuncture studies were performed to localize the nephron site of restoration of the phosphaturic effect of parathyroid hormone by propranolol in rats deprived of phosphate for one day. In animals fed low phosphate diet and in the presence of parathyroid hormone, propranolol infusion did not change phosphate delivery to the late proximal tubule; however, fractional delivery of phosphate to the early distal tubule was significantly increased from 18.3 +/- 2.9 to 32.2 +/- 4.1%. In rats fed a normal phosphate diet, propranolol infusion did not change phosphate delivery along the nephron. We conclude that the restoration of the phosphaturic effect of parathyroid hormone by propranolol infusion in rats deprived of phosphate for 1 day is primarily due to decreased reabsorption of phosphate by superficial loop segments, most likely the pars recta segment of the proximal tubule.