Epidermal growth factor (EGF) exhibits specific saturable binding to cultured rat inner medullary collecting tubule cells and stimulates inositol trisphosphate (IP3) production by these cells in a dose-dependent fashion. EGF-stimulated IP3 production is enhanced by GTP-ys or AJF4 and is inhibited by GDPBs or pertussis toxin. Alterations in extracellular Ca2" have no effect on either basal or EGF-stimulated IP3 production. Similarly, treatment with EGTA which decreases cytosolic Ca" is without effect. In contrast, treatment with ionomycin which increases cytosolic Ca2" has no effect on basal IP3 production but enhances the response to EGF. Activation of protein kinase C inhibits IP3 production in response to either EGF or AIF4. These studies demonstrate the occurrence of EGF-stimulated phospholipase C activity in the rat inner medullary collecting duct. Stimulation by EGF is transduced by a pertussis toxinsensitive G protein, unaffected by alterations in extracellular Ca2+, insensitive to a decrement in cytosolic Ca`., enhanced by an increase in cytosolic Ca2+, and inhibited by protein kinase C. (J. Clin.