In the absence of ADH, microperfused cortical collecting tubules of rabbits reabsorb calcium and phosphorus. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) (200 microunits/ml Pitressin or synthetic arginine vasopressin) inhibits the reabsorption and may promote the secretion of calcium and phosphorus. At 5 min after incubation with ADH, there was a transitory increase in the potential difference and the reabsorption of sodium. The fluxes of calcium and phosphorus, however, showed no significant change from the control values. At 30-50 min after treatment with ADH, the reabsorption of calcium and phosphorus was inhibited and in some tubules calcium and phosphorus were secreted. The removal of vasopressin from the bath or the addition of 10(-5) M meclofenamate in vitro prevented ADH from inhibiting the reabsorption of calcium and phosphorus. Treatment of tubules with 10(-5) M prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) subsequent to incubation in a medium containing ADH and meclofenamate inhibited the reabsorption or even promoted the secretin of calcium and phosphorus, as did the prolonged incubation with ADH alone. We conclude that cortical collecting tubules reabsorb calcium and phosphorus in the absence of vasopressin and that ADH inhibits calcium and phosphorus reabsorption. Endogenous synthesis of PGE2 may mediate the inhibitory action of ADH, since meclofenamate (an inhibitor of the synthesis of prostaglandins) opposes and exogenous PGE2 mimics ADH.