To obtain new information on the poorly investigated mechanisms of the diarrheogenic effects of bile acids, we investigated the effects of the unconjugated bile acids chenodeoxycholate and ursodeoxycholate on the small intestine transport of electrolytes and nutrients in the rabbit jejunal and ileal mucosa mounted in vitro in Ussing or influx chambers. When added to the ileal mucosa at a concentration of 1 mM, both bile acids induced a secretory shift in ion transport; absorption of Na and Cl was abolished and secretion of bicarbonate was enhanced. No changes in short circuit current or electrolyte transport were observed when the bile acids were added to the jejunal mucosa. The addition of 1 mM chenodeoxycholate to the luminal side of the ileum induced a marked inhibition in the uptake of glucose, phenylalanine, and glutamic acid. A similar inhibition, though of a lesser magnitude, was also induced by both bile acids on jejunal nutrient transport. Further studies on the inhibitory effect of chenodeoxycholate on glucose influx showed that the inhibition was dose-dependent; at 1 mM it was maximal and resulted in the complete abolition of the active component, with only the diffusional pathway still operative. We conclude that unconjugated bile acids act as secretagogues in the ileum and significantly blunt the active transport of nutrients in the small intestine. Both effects may well play a role in the diarrheogenic action of these bile acids.