An in vitro vascularly and luminally perfused preparation of the murine small intestine was used to investigate the interference of isethionate, cyclamate and HEPES (N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid) with the luminal transport of the isoprenaline-sulfoconjugate as well as with the basolateral transport of naphthol-sulfoconjugate. The sulfonates and sulfamates when administered from the luminal as well as from the contraluminal side of the epithelium inhibited the transport of isoprenaline-sulfoconjugate. Inhibition of the naphthol-sulfoconjugate transport across the contraluminal epithelial membrane was less pronounced, but a countertransport phenomenon could be induced with cyclamate in the vascular medium. The presence of phosphate at the luminal side is essential for the transport of the isoprenaline-sulfoconjugate across the luminal membrane. This is not the case for bicarbonate. The conclusion is drawn that different transport systems for sulfoconjugates exist in the luminal and in the contraluminal membranes of the intestinal mucosa, which can be inhibited by structurally related compounds. The luminal transport system can be activated from the luminal side by phosphate.