To determine the effect of acute volume expansion and changes in plasma chloride on fluid and chloride uptake in superficial loop segments of rats, this segment was microperfused in vivo at 22 nl/min with a fluid containing Na 145, Cl and 36Cl 130, and HCO3 15 meq/liter during hydropenia and after acute volume expansion with 0.15 M NaCl, 0.15 M NaHCO3, or an isotonic bicarbonate Ringer (Cl 106 meq/liter) solution. Fractional fluid, chloride, and 36Cl reabsorption and early distal chloride concentration did not change during maintained hydropenia (time control) or during volume expansion with NaCl (plasma chloride 120 meq/liter) or bicarbonate Ringer solution (plasma chloride 104 meq/liter). Absolute and fractional reabsorption of chloride and 36Cl increased, without change in fluid reabsorption, and early distal chloride diminished after infusion of NaHCO3 (plasma chloride 90 meq/liter). It is concluded that acute volume expansion, per se, has no effect on either net fluid or net chloride absorption in the superficial loop segment at the load studied. Hypochloremia is associated with increased net reabsorption of chloride and an increased unidirectional efflux of chloride from the loop segment during acute volume expansion, most likely due to a gradient effect on the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle.