Basal and aldosterone-stimulated short-circuit current (Isc) of A6 epithelia are known to be equivalent to net apical to basal Na flux and are completely inhibited by 0.05 mM amiloride added to the solution bathing the apical surface of the epithelium. In the absence of amiloride, the Isc stimulated by adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) is also equivalent to net apical to basal Na flux. However, amiloride does not completely inhibit the cAMP-stimulated Isc. In this study, the cAMP-stimulated, amiloride-insensitive Isc was characterized, using vasopressin or forskolin to raise cell cAMP. After basal Isc is inhibited by amiloride, forskolin stimulates Isc, conductance, and bidirectional 36Cl flux. Stimulation of Isc depends on the presence of both Na and Cl; stimulation of conductance depends on the presence of Cl. 36Cl flux studies showed that the cAMP-stimulated, amiloride-insensitive Isc is equivalent to net Cl flux. It is inhibited by ouabain and by furosemide or bumetanide added to the solution bathing the basal surface of the epithelium. In view of the effect of cAMP in some other epithelia, we suggest that cAMP activates apical membrane Cl channels that are in series with a Na-K-Cl cotransporter in the basolateral plasma membrane.