The present in vitro microperfusion study examined whether apical membrane chloride transport is mediated by chloride-base exchange in the rabbit proximal convoluted (PCT) and proximal straight tubule (PST) by examining the effect of the addition of luminal chloride on intracellular pH. Intracellular pH was measured fluorometrically using the pH-sensitive dye 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5,6-carboxyfluorescein. In PCT initially perfused without chloride, changing the luminal perfusate to a high chloride (148 mM)-low bicarbonate (5 mM) solution simulating late proximal tubular fluid produced a cell acidification (7.56 +/- 0.06 to 7.52 +/- 0.06, P less than 0.02) when 1 mM formate was present in the perfusate and bathing solution. This acidification was inhibited by 0.5 mM 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid. This chloride-base exchange was not observed in the absence of formate, and neither acetate nor lactate produced the cell acidification observed with formate. Because the Na+-H+ antiporter could blunt a pH change, 2 mM amiloride was added to the luminal perfusate. While addition of luminal chloride produced a small cell acidification in the absence of formate (7.63 +/- 0.06 to 7.60 +/- 0.05, P less than 0.05), a much greater cell acidification was observed in the presence of 1 mM formate (7.69 +/- 0.05 to 7.58 +/- 0.06, P less than 0.01). Chloride-base exchange was only detected in the presence of formate in the PST. These studies demonstrate apical membrane chloride-base exchange in the presence of formate in the rabbit proximal tubule consistent with chloride-formate exchange.