Activation of a Cl-dependent K flux by adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) was characterized in pig red cells, a cell type that lacks both the Ca-activated K channel and the Na-K-Cl cotransport pathway. As in other red cells, both Cl-dependent K efflux and K influx are stimulated on cell swelling. Although pig red cells fail to respond to beta-adrenergic stimuli, it is possible to raise the intracellular cAMP content by preincubating cells in the presence of 1 mM cAMP. The Cl-dependent K flux was compared in cells having a basal cAMP content of approximately 0.29 nmol/g hemoglobin vs. cAMP-loaded cells having approximately 8.4 nmol cAMP/g hemoglobin. Loading with cAMP stimulated both Cl-dependent K efflux and influx of hypotonically swollen cells. In maximally swollen cells whose volume was increased by approximately 17%, the Cl-dependent Rb influx occurs with a maximum velocity (Vmax) of 17.9 +/- 3.2 mumol.g hemoglobin (Hb)-1.h-1 and Km for Rb of 22.9 +/- 4.1 mM. In cAMP-loaded cells, both Vmax and Km were increased to 59.8 +/- 8.5 mumol.g Hb-1.h-1 and 63.1 +/- 8.8 mM, respectively. The Cl-dependent Rb influx is much larger in young cells than in old cells. However, both cell types respond to cAMP activation. Whereas cAMP and its analogues, 8-bromoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate and dibutyryl adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate are stimulatory, AMP and guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) are not. These findings suggest that, like other ion transport systems, the Cl-dependent K flux of pig red cells is endowed with the capacity to respond to cAMP.