Iodide uptake by primary cultures of turtle thyroid cells decreased linearly with reduction of Na+ concentration in the medium, but changes in medium Cl- concentration did not affect iodide uptake. Ouabain, furosemide, monensin, and perchlorate all decreased 125I-uptake by cultured thyroid cells, whereas amiloride and triamterene did not. Ouabain, monensin, perchlorate, and amiloride depolarized the membrane of cultured cells, whereas furosemide and triamterene had no effect. Ouabain and perchlorate increased intracellular Na+ and Cl- and decreased K+ activities; furosemide and monensin reduced all three ions, but triamterene had no effect. Amiloride decreased intracellular Na+ and increased intracellular Cl- activities, however, its effect on K+ activity could not be determined because of interference by this compound of the K+ ion exchanger. All the agents, except furosemide, inhibited Na+-K+-ATPase activity. These experiments demonstrate that 1) Na+-I- cotransport is responsible for most iodide accumulation in thyroid cells; 2) Na+-I- cotransport system is linked to the Na+-K+ pump; 3) active iodide transport does not always correlate with Na+-K+-ATPase activity; 4) a perchlorate-sensitive iodide transport system is present in thyroid cells; 5) transport processes, not involved in active iodide transport (Na+-Cl- cotransport and Na+-H+ counter transport), are also present in cultured thyroid cells.