Previous studies in chloride-depletion metabolic alkalosis (CDA) generated by intraperitoneal dialysis have suggested major alterations in chloride and bicarbonate transport beyond the distal convoluted tubule. To investigate the possible role of the cortical collecting duct (CCD) in the pathophysiology of CDA, isolated CCD segments were perfused in vitro from either control (CON) rats dialyzed against Ringer-bicarbonate or those made alkalotic by peritoneal dialysis with 0.15 M NaHCO3. Tubules from CDA animals secreted CO2 for greater than or equal to 3 h after dissection (-22.4 +/- 7.2 pmol.mm-1.min-1) compared with CON tubules that absorbed CO2 (18.3 +/- 4.2 pmol.mm-1.min-1). Replacement of luminal chloride with gluconate in the perfusate abolished net total CO2 (tCO2) secretion in tubules from CDA animals (from -21.5 +/- 4.5 to -2.7 +/- 2.3 pmol.mm-1.min-1) but did not alter net tCO2 absorption in tubules from CON animals. In contrast, removal of bath chloride increased net tCO2 secretion (-12.1 +/- 2.9 to -26.1 +/- 3.6 pmol.mm-1.min-1) in CDA tubules, whereas net tCO2 flux was altered from absorption to secretion in CON tubules (15.5 +/- 4.0 to -13.6 +/- 9.2 pmol.mm-1.min-1). These results demonstrate that 1) CDA generated in vivo within 45 min results in stable net tCO2 secretion in vitro up to 240 min in the CCD; 2) luminal chloride is necessary for tCO2 secretion; 3) the shift of net tCO2 flux from absorption to secretion in CON tubules in vitro was not sustained in contrast to CDA tubules.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)