The immature kidney has a blunted natriuretic response to saline loading. to localize the high fractional Na reabsorption in the developing nephron, we determined Na delivery to the early distal tubule (EDT) and the fraction of filtered Na remaining in the tubular fluid [(TF/P)Na/In] in the EDT and late distal tubule (LDT) in 24- and 40-day-old hydropenic (HP) and volume-expanded (VE) rats. During HP the (TF/P)Na/In ratio in EDT was significantly higher in the younger rats (12.6 +/- 2.0%) than in the older rats (4.2 +/- 0.6%), but because of a lower SNGFR in the younger rats th Na delivery to EDT was the same in both age groups. The (TF/P)Na/In ratio in LDT was not different in 24- and 40-day-old HP rats (1.1 +/- 0.4 and 1.7 +/- 0.3%, respectively). During VE th (TF/P)Na/In ratio in LDT was significantly lower in 24- (3.0 +/- 0.7%) than in 40-day-old rats (8.3 +/- 1.1%). The (TF/P)Na/In ratio in LDT correlated well with the urinary fractional Na excretion. It is concluded that the Na reabsorption capacity of the developing nephron is more efficient in the distal tubule than in the more proximal tubular segments.