Previous studies have shown that the adaptive response of tubular inorganic phosphate (Pi) transport to Pi deprivation is detectable in the whole kidney 24 h after switching rats from a high (HPD) to a low (LPD) Pi diet. In the present work we report on a more rapid adaptive response of the sodium (Na)-dependent Pi transport system located in the luminal membrane of the proximal tubule and its relation with changes in phosphatemia an parathyroid hormone status. Rats were fed HPD and trained to eat their daily ration within 1 h. After two weeks of equilibration half of the animals received a single LPD ration. 1, 2 and 4 h after the end of food consumption the animals were either sacrificed for renal cortical brush border membrane vesicle (BBMV) isolation or used for determining plasma Pi concentration, urinary excretion of Pi and cAMP. The results indicate that 2 and 4 h after the end of feeding, the Na-dependent Pi transport in BBMV was stimulated by 70 and 140% respectively in intact rats exposed for the first time to LPD. This response was preceded by a significant fall in plasma Pi concentration (HPD: 2.46 +/- 0.03, LPD: 2.04 +/- 0.05 mM), in the urinary excretion of Pi (HPD: 899.0 +/- 68.1; LPD: 6.5 +/- 3.3 mumol/ml GFR) and cAMP (HPD: 76.9 +/- 7.4, LPD: 48.2 +/- 1.4 pmol/ml GF). This last result suggested a rapid inhibition of PTH after one single LPD feeding.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)