Isolated segments of the renal tubules from the freshwater trout, Salmo gairdneri, were perfused in vitro to characterize ion and water transport. The distal tubule showed a transepithelial voltage (Vt) positive in the lumen (+17.8 +/- 1.4 mV). Furosemide added to the lumen and Na cyanide and ouabain added to the bath reduced the lumen-positive Vt of the distal tubule. Removal of either Cl- or Na+ from both perfusate and bathing medium abolished the lumen-positive Vt. When the distal tubule was perfused and bathed with isosmotic solution, net water flux (Jv) was nearly zero. Jv and hydraulic conductivity remained low when the osmolality of the bathing fluid was increased with raffinose. Neurohypophysial hormones added to the bath showed no effect. Chloride efflux (lumen to bath, 171.1 +/- 17.1 peq x mm-1. min-1) was significantly higher than chloride influx (bath to lumen, 105.6 +/- 12.3 peq x mm-1 x min-1), suggesting that net chloride reabsorption exists. These results suggest that in the freshwater trout, which lack the loop of Henle, the distal tubule acts as a diluting segment. The presence of sodium, in addition to chloride, is required to generate the lumen-positive Vt in the distal tubule.