Clearance studies in newborns demonstrate low rates of urinary excretion of potassium, suggesting that the neonatal kidney contributes to the conservation of potassium necessary for growth. Because the cortical collecting duct (CCD) is a primary site for potassium secretion in the adult, we sought to examine the transport capacity of this segment for potassium during postnatal maturation. CCDs isolated from rabbits of various ages (5-6 animals/age group) were microperfused in vitro with solutions simulating plasma. The concentrations of potassium in samples of collected fluid, measured by helium glow photometry, were used to calculate net transport. At a flow rate of approximately 1.6 nl.min-1 x mm-1 net potassium secretion was absent at birth, first became evident at 4 wk of age (-11.08 +/- 2.39 pmol.min-1 x mm-1), and increased sharply thereafter to reach mature rates (-23.08 +/- 3.47 pmol.min-1 x mm-1; P < 0.05) by 6 wk of age. To determine whether low distal tubular flow rates limit net potassium secretion in the neonate, we perfused CCDs at two or more flow rates in the 0.5-5 nl.min-1 x mm-1 range. In CCDs taken from animals > or = 6 wk of age, potassium secretion showed a significant linear correlation with flow rate (y = -10.0x - 7.45; r = 0.87; n = 12).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)