Although numerous studies have documented the effects of the renal nerves on kidney function, the mechanisms involved in the diuresis have yet to be elucidated. The present study was undertaken to examine the effect of acute unilateral renal denervation (DNX) on proximal tubular absorption of fluid and bicarbonate and to determine if acute DNX was associated with changes in Na-K-ATPase activity. Acute DNX caused significant increases in urine flow and absolute and fractional excretions of Na, HCO3 and K compared to the contralateral control kidney (INN) or sham denervated kidneys in normal rats as well as in rats made alkalotic by the I.V. infusion of 150 mM NaHCO3. These effects were seen without significant changes in GFR. When proximal convoluted tubules (PCT) were perfused with bicarbonate-Ringer's solution DNX resulted in a 67% decrease in fluid reabsorption (INN: 3.0 +/- 0.2 vs DNX: 1.0 +/- 0.1 nl/min/mm; p less than 0.001) and a 40% decline in bicarbonate (total CO2) reabsorption (INN: 151.3 +/- 8.8 vs DNX: 94.5 +/- 10.1 pmol/min/mm; p less than 0.01). Acute DNX caused a significant reduction in Na-K-ATPase activity measured in microsomes derived from the outer cortex of the kidney (INN: 13.2 +/- 1.3 vs DNX: 10.9 +/- 0.7 mumol PO4/mg prot/hr; p less than 0.01) while Mg-ATPase was unaffected. Sham denervation had no effect on any of the above parameters. These results indicate that the renal nerves play an important role in the regulation of bicarbonate and fluid reabsorption in the PCT. The diuresis, natriuresis, and bicarbonaturia associated with acute unilateral renal denervation may be the direct result of inhibition of Na-K-ATPase activity.