The epithelial Na ϩ channel (ENaC) is tightly regulated by sodium intake to maintain whole body sodium homeostasis. In addition, ENaC is inhibited by high levels of intracellular Na ϩ [Na ϩ ]i, presumably to prevent cell Na ϩ overload and swelling. However, it is not clear if this regulation is relevant in vivo. We show here that in rats, an acute (4 h) oral sodium load decreases whole-cell amiloride-sensitive currents (INa) in the cortical collecting duct (CCD) even when plasma aldosterone levels are maintained high by infusing the hormone. This was accompanied by decreases in whole-kidney cleaved ␣-ENaC (2.6 fold), total -ENaC (1.7 fold), and cleaved ␥-ENaC (6.2 fold). In addition, cell-surface -and ␥-ENaC expression was measured using in situ biotinylation. There was a decrease in cell-surface core-glycosylated (2.2 fold) and maturely glycosylated (4.9 fold) -ENaC and cleaved ␥-ENaC (4.7 fold). There were no significant changes for other apical sodium transporters. To investigate the role of increases in Na ϩ entry and presumably [Na ϩ ]i on ENaC, animals were infused with amiloride prior to and during sodium loading. Blocking Na ϩ entry did not inhibit the effect of resalting on INa. However, amiloride did prevent decreases in ENaC expression, an effect that was not mimicked by hydrochlorothiazide administration. Na ϩ entry and presumably [Na ϩ ]i can regulate ENaC expression but does not fully account for the aldosterone-independent decrease in I Na during an acute sodium load. Na channel; Na transporters; amiloride; intracellular Na THE MAMMALIAN KIDNEY plays an integral role in maintaining whole body sodium homeostasis by regulating the amount of sodium that is reabsorbed from the glomerular filtrate. The aldosterone-sensitive distal nephron (ASDN) serves as the final site of sodium reabsorption and plays a key role in matching sodium intake with excretion. The epithelial Na ϩ channel (ENaC) mediates sodium entry across the apical membrane and is thought to be the predominant site for regulating sodium reabsorption in the ASDN (7,19,21,27,28). The mineralocorticoid aldosterone serves as a signal to increase ENaC activity in response to a low-Na diet by increasing channel activity as well as overall and apical surface expression of ENaC subunits (23,26,45). With an acute sodium load, serum aldosterone levels rapidly decrease with a concomitant decrease in ENaC activity and expression (12,27). However, it is unknown if the decrease in aldosterone is necessary for downregulating ENaC activity under these conditions.During an acute sodium load, there is a rapid increase in urinary sodium excretion. This is likely to enhance Na ϩ entry in the ENaC-expressing cells due to increased Na ϩ delivery to the ASDN. The rate of sodium entry could serve as another signal to downregulate ENaC activity. Previous studies found that inhibiting sodium entry with amiloride in isolated toad bladder (40) and rat CCD (18) increases sodium channel activity. Conversely, inhibiting basolateral efflux of Na ϩ in frog skin (24), t...