Although adenosine contributes importantly to the regulation of renin release, renal vascular resistance and renal tubular reabsorption, the metabolic pathways that control the intrarenal production rate of adenosine remain ill defined. The objective of this study was to determine whether extracellular metabolism of cyclic AMP to AMP by extracellular phosphodiesterase and hence to adenosine by ecto-5'-nucleotidase can occur in the intact kidney. To test this hypothesis, five experimental series were conducted in kidneys from male Sprague-Dawley rats perfused in a nonrecirculating system (5 ml/min) in vitro with oxygenated Tyrode's solution at 37 degrees C. In each experimental series, cyclic AMP was added to the Tyrode's solution and the renal secretion rates (i.e., the renal venous concentration of purine x the perfusion flow rate) of AMP, adenosine and inosine were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. In the first experimental series, only cyclic AMP was added to the perfusate. In the second, third, fourth and fifth experimental series, kidneys were perfused with Tyrode's solution containing both cyclic AMP and either 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (a phosphodiesterase inhibitor), alpha,beta-methyleneadenosine-5'-diphosphate (an ecto-5'-nucleotidase inhibitor), dilazep (an adenosine transport inhibitor) or 1,3-dipropyl-8-p-sulfophenylxanthine (a xanthine that is restricted to the extracellular compartment). In the first experimental series (n = 8), addition of cyclic AMP to the perfusate resulted in significant concentration-related increases in the renal secretion rates of AMP, adenosine and inosine, with the increase in AMP secretion being significantly greater than the increases in adenosine or inosine secretions (delta adenosine secretion/delta AMP secretion = 0.38 +/- 0.10).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)