mIMCD-k2 cells are derived from the inner medullary collecting duct of a mouse and exhibit electrogenic sodium absorption and cAMP- and vasopressin (AVP)-stimulated electrogenic chloride secretion [N. L. Kizer, B. Lewis, and B. A. Stanton. Am. J. Physiol. 268 (Renal Fluid Electrolyte Physiol. 37): F347-F355, 1995; and N. L. Kizer, D. Vandorpe, B. Lewis, B. Bunting, J. Russell, and B. A. Stanton. Am. J. Physiol. 268 (Renal Fluid Electrolyte Physiol. 37): F854-F861, 1995]. The purpose of the present study was to determine how peptide YY (PYY) affects electrogenic Na+ and Cl- current in mIMCD-k2 cells. Short-circuit currents (Isc) were measured across monolayers of mIMCD-k2 cells mounted in Ussing-type chambers. PYY did not alter baseline Isc, nor did it alter Isc in chloride-free conditions, indicating no effect on electrogenic sodium transport. Baseline chloride current in these cells is low; therefore, chloride short-circuit current (IClsc) was stimulated with AVP (10 nM) added to the basolateral surface and 10 microM amiloride added to the apical surface. Although apical applications of PYY had no effect, basolateral application of PYY caused attenuation of IClsc, with the maximal inhibitory dose (100 nM) causing 52 +/- 1.3% inhibition (IC50 = 0.11 nM). Inhibition by PYY of IClsc is mediated through the Y2 receptor subtype, as PYY-(3-36) was the only PYY analog tested that caused inhibition and was equipotent to PYY. Inhibition by PYY of IClsc was abolished following incubation with pertussis toxin. We also show that PYY inhibits AVP-stimulated cAMP accumulation, with a maximal inhibitory dose (100 nM) causing a 38% +/- 6% inhibition (IC50 = 0.16 nM), comparable to inhibition by PYY of IClsc. We conclude that PYY acts through either Gi or Go to inhibit adenylate cyclase activity, leading to a decrease in AVP-stimulated chloride current.