Unidirectional fluxes of 42K+ and 86Rb+ were measured in isolated perfused segments of proximal straight tubules and no differences were found between the two isotopes for the same flux determination. In the three segments examined (the early and late superficial proximal straight tubule and the juxtamedullary proximal straight tubule) there was apparent net active K+ secretion as demonstrated by differences in the unidirectional fluxes of 2.6, 3.2, and 4.8 pmol.min-1.mm-1, respectively. However, in contrast to the expectations for active K+ secretion, the bath-to-lumen fluxes were unaffected by 0.1 mM ouabain added to the bathing solution, and in the early superficial and juxtamedullary segments these fluxes were directly proportional to the K+ concentration of the bathing solution over a range of concentrations. Apparent K+ permeability coefficients were calculated from lumen-to-bath fluxes to be 0.14 +/- 0.02, 0.10 +/- 0.02, and 0.52 +/- 0.07 micrometers.s-1 in the early and late superficial and juxtamedullary segments, respectively. Based on these data and on a mathematical analysis, we have concluded that active K+ secretion of the magnitude measured would have little importance in determining the K+ load delivered to the descending limb of the loop of Henle. However, the higher passive permeability of the juxtamedullary segment would allow significant net K+ secretion if the outer medullary interstitium had even a moderately elevated K+ concentration.