2Ϫ secretion by the marine teleost renal proximal tubule was examined. Metabolic acidosis was mimicked in primary cultures of winter flounder renal proximal tubule epithelium (fPTCs) mounted in Ussing chambers by reducing interstitial pH to 7.1 (normally 7.7). fPTCs with metabolic acidosis secreted SO 4 2Ϫ at a net rate that was 40% higher than in paired isohydric controls (pH 7.7 on interstitium). The stimulation was completely blocked by the carbonic anhydrase inhibitor methazolamide (100 M). Although Na ϩ /H ϩ exchange (NHE) isoforms 1, 2, and 3 were identified in fPTCs by immunoblotting, administering EIPA (20 M) to the interstitial and luminal bath solutions had no effect on net SO 4 2Ϫ secretion by fPTCs with a normal interstitial pH of 7.7. However, EIPA (20 M) blocked most of the stimulation caused by acidosis when applied to the lumen but not interstitium, demonstrating that induction of brush-border NHE activity is important. In the intact flounder, serum pH dropped 0.4 pH units (pH 7.7 to 7.3, at 2-3 h) when environmental pH was lowered from 7.8 to ϳ4. (4,6,28). NHE activity has been demonstrated in renal brush-border membrane vesicles from seawater adapted eels (Anguilla anguilla) and NHE isoform 3 (NHE3) mRNA has been identified in the kidneys of the acidtolerant Osorezan dace (Tribolodon hakonensis) (15,43,48). Although there is evidence suggesting that NHE is present in the marine teleost kidney, low urine flow rates appear to preclude a significant renal participation in acid/base balance (8,20).Metabolic acidosis manifests as a decrease in serum pH and [HCO 3 Ϫ ] without a change in PCO 2 . The overproduction of acid (e.g., lactic acid), ingestion of acid, and interference with branchial acid excretion (e.g., exposure of fish to acidic water) can all elicit metabolic acidosis. In rats, metabolic acidosis (Ͼ24 h) increases renal SO 4 2Ϫ excretion by effectively reducing Na-dependent SO 4 2Ϫ reabsorption (29). The purpose of the current study was to determine the short-term effect of metabolic acidosis and the role of NHE activity in proximal tubular SO 4 2Ϫ secretion. The findings reported here indicate that metabolic acidosis acutely stimulates the rate of renal proximal tubular SO 4 2Ϫ secretion both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, both CA and brush-border NHE activity appear to be required for the high level of SO 4 2Ϫ secretion during acidosis.