In in vitro bullfrog fundic mucosa inhibited with 10(-3) M metiamide and exposed to a luminal pH of 2 a progressive slow decline in potential difference (PD) and short-circuit current (Isc) and a rise in resistance (R) were observed when the nutrient solution (N) contained 18 mM HCO3(-), but these changes were restored by an N containing 50 mM HCO3(-). Substitution of PO4(3-) or N-tris(hydroxymethyl)-methyl-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid for NHO3(-) in N caused a rapid drop in PD and Isc in inhibited tissues, changes that could be prevented by 10(-4) M histamine. Ulceration occurred more frequently in metiamide-inhibited gastric sacs exposed to artificial gastric juice with an N of 18 mMHCO3(-) than with 50 mM HCO3(-), but histamine prevented ulceration in the 18 mM HCO3(-) solution. JnetCl approximated Isc under most experimental conditions in inhibited mucosa and was reduced dramatically as were both Jn leads to sCl and Js leads to nCl when HCO3(-) was removed from N. In histamine-stimulated tissues, removal of nutrient HCO3(-) did not influence Cl- transport. Our results are consistent with the proposal that HCO3(-) in N supports normal Cl- flux and that the alkaline tide of actively secreting oxyntic cells can do the same in the absence of ambient HCO3(-).