Cyclic AMP (10 mM) has been demonstrated to inhibit hydrogen ion secretion in the isolated turtle bladder. These experiments were designed to study the effect of cyclic AMP on hydrogen ion secretion in the isolated turtle bladder using both the pH stat and the reverse short circuit current techniques. Sodium transport was measured as the short circuit current. Studies were carried out at 0% CO2 and 1% CO2 at pH 7.4. Cyclic AMP (10 mM) was added to either the serosal or mucosal solutions, and hydrogen ion secretion was measured from 0 to 120 min. In the presence or absence of carbon dioxide, cyclic AMP and dibutyryl cyclic AMP had no effect on hydrogen ion secretion in fasted turtles. The addition of theophylline (10 mM) to the serosal solution, with or without cyclic AMP had no effect on proton secretion. Sodium transport was unchanged from control following serosal or mucosal addition of 10 mM cyclic AMP in the presence or absence of carbon dioxide. In chronically bicarbonate-loaded turtles proton secretion was the same as control fasted turtles. In these animals, however, serosal administration of 10 mM cyclic AMP significantly stimulated bicarbonate secretion. Stimulation of bicarbonate secretion occurred in the presence of a 20 mM bicarbonate gradient. When there was no bicarbonate gradient, cyclic AMP was without effect; cyclic AMP had no effect on bicarbonate permeability when measured in the presence of acetazolamide. These results indicate that cyclic AMP has no effect on hydrogen ion secretion or sodium transport in the isolated turtle bladder when studied at two different rates of acidification (0 and 1% CO2). Cyclic AMP appears to stimulate active bicarbonate secretion.