Epidermal growth factor (EGF) inhibits Na transport in the cortical collecting ducts (CCD). To gain insight into the signal transduction of this effect, several potential mechanisms were examined in rabbit CCD perfused in vitro. Pretreatment with pertussis toxin, indomethacin, or the protein kinase C inhibitor H7 did not prevent the acute 34-50% decrease in lumen-to-bath 22Na flux (JNa) on exposure to peritubular EGF, indicating that the inhibition is not mediated by a Gi protein, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), or protein kinase C. Inhibition of the basolateral Na-H exchanger was also without an effect. Lowering the bath Ca concentration from 1.2 to 0.11 mM did not prevent the inhibition of JNa by EGF (JNa decreased significantly by 38.7 +/- 6.9% and 29.1 +/- 5.3%, respectively); in contrast, reduction of the bath free Ca to 0.005 mM totally abolished the effect of EGF. The response to EGF was also assessed in the setting of chronic stimulation of Na transport; inhibition of JNa by EGF was still observed in CCD from remnant kidneys and in CCD from mineralocorticoid-treated rabbits. The results demonstrate that the inhibition of CCD Na transport by EGF is dependent on peritubular Ca. This suggests that the signal transduction involves Ca influx across the basolateral membrane and that increased cytosolic free Ca may be a common pathway for the counterregulatory control of Na reabsorption by several agonists.