Uptake of bumetanide into rat liver cells was investigated using isolated hepatocytes and primary cell cultures. The kinetics of [3H]-bumetanide uptake revealed two saturable components in addition to an unsaturable component. Saturable bumetanide uptake consists of a high-affinity, sodium-dependent uptake and a low-affinity transport system. Bumetanide uptake into isolated rat hepatocytes is energy dependent and temperature sensitive. At low temperatures, bumetanide uptake is due to diffusion with a permeability coefficient of 1.16 x 10(-6) cm/s. In primary liver cell cultures, uptake of bumetanide decreases rapidly over 3 days. AS-30D ascites hepatoma cells do not take up bumetanide but bind small amounts of the loop diuretic. Hepatocytes metabolized bumetanide extensively. The metabolites were secreted into the surrounding incubation buffer. Two hydroxylated and at least one conjugated biotransformation product could be separated by thin-layer chromatography. Isolated rat hepatocytes possess carrier proteins for uptake of bumetanide and very likely also for uptake of other loop diuretics like furosemide, piretanide, and torasemide. Several inhibitors of multispecific transport systems in the kidney and liver were tested as potential inhibitors of hepatocellular bumetanide or furosemide uptake. Probenecid, 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid, iodipamide, digitoxin, bile acids, and bromosulfophthalein inhibited uptake of loop diuretics. Inhibition by taurocholic acid was competitive with a Ki of 24 microM. Taurocholic acid inhibited [3H]bumetanide uptake in the presence but not in the absence of Na+. Deoxycholic acid and bromosulfophthalein were noncompetitive inhibitors of hepatocellular bumetanide uptake.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)