Two new diuretic agents, piretanide and MK-196, inhibited short-circuit current (SCC) across the isolated frog corneal epithelium. The effect is explained as an inhibition of active Cl transport. A definite decrease in SCC and an increase in electrical resistance was observed with both diuretics in concentrations as low as 10(-6) M. Piretanide, at 10(-4) M, reduced the SCC by 90%, reduced th unidirectional forward Cl flux from 0.60 to 0.28 mueq x h-1 x cm-2, and increased the resistance by 60%. There was no effect on the Cl backflux. At 10(-4) M, MK-196 reduced the SCC by 83% and increased the resistance by 72%, from 1.68 to 2.91 k omega x cm2. Replacement of Cl by SO4 in the bathing solutions resulted in a larger increase in resistance, from 1.68 to 3.80 k omega x cm2. The diuretics had no effect on active Na transport across the corneal epithelium. After the permeability of the apical side was increased by amphotericin B, the drugs could not inhibit the Cl-originated SCC. These results suggest that piretanide and MK-196 selectively inhibit active Cl transport in the cornea by blocking Cl permeability of the apical side of the epithelial cells.