Two stilbene derivates that had been used to covalently label the Cl- carrier in the erythrocyte were investigated for reactivity with the renal organic anion system. These compounds, 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate (DIDS) and (4,4'-diisothiocyano)-dihydrostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate (H2DIDS), were found to be potent inhibitors (Ki congruent to 35 microM) of p-aminohippurate (PAH) transport in the renal cortical slice without affecting tetraethylammonium (TEA) transport or tissue viability. During renal clearance studies performed in the perfused kidney, DIDS decreased the PAH/inulin clearance ratio to congruent to 1. When the possible renal transport of [3H]H2DIDS was investigated, the renal slice transport or binding of [3H]H2DIDS reached a slice-to-medium ratio of congruent to 6, and this accumulation was decreased by probenecid. In perfused kidney experiments, the [3H]H2DIDS/inulin clearance ratio was congruent to 0.8. Since probenecid reduced this clearance ratio to congruent to 0.5, there was the possibility that H2DIDS underwent tubular secretion. In conclusion, DIDS and H2DIDS interacted with the renal organic anion transport system, which indicated that these compounds were possible probes for this transport system.