Relationships between intracellular and extracellular pH isolated rat diaphragms were determined both during respiratory and metabolic changes of extracellular pH. Metabolic changes of extracellular pH were produced by varying bicarbonate concentration of the suspending Krebs-Ringer solution and respiratory changes were produced by varying PCO2 of the suspending medium. At any defined extracellular pH, the bicarbonate concentration ratios between intracellular and extracellular space were the same during both metabolic and respiratory changes of extracellular pH. However, when extracellular pH varied within 7.15 and 7.4 intracellular pH remained essentially constant. In order to maintain the intracellular pH constant during extracellular pH changes, a bicarbonate efflux during metabolic changes from the intracellular compartment, and a bicarbonate influx during respiratory changes to the intracellular compartment must occur. The maintenance of identical intracellular/extracellular bicarbonate concentration ratios regardless of the mechanisms of extracellular pH changes (metabolic or respiratory) suggests an active mechanism for the transport of bicarbonate or H-+ ions.