Thirty minutes after indomethacin (10 mg/kg, iv), a prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor, had been given to 10 rats, the Na concentration in renal papilla averaged 349 mEq/kg H2O, whereas it averaged only 181 in 14 "non-indomethacin" control rats (P less than 0.0001). Papillary plasma flow was closely similar in both groups. In a subsequent study, eight "indomethacin" rats had the same papillary flow as seven non-indomethacin rats but had a papillary Na concentration of 358 vs. 185 in the non-indomethacin controls (P less than 0.0001). In nine more rats, indomethacin increased Cl concentration in papillas by 66% (P less than 0.0001), while Na concentration increased 60% (P less than 0.0001). In eight other rats, micropuncture indicated that indomethacin does not greatly alter delivery of fluid out of late proximal tubule. Meclofenamate, another inhibitor, increased papillary Na just as much as indomethacin. Papillary urea is not changed with indomethacin. Thus, papillary Na concentration was almost twice as high in indomethacin rats, despite similar papillary plasma flow and late proximal flow. Apparently, inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis is associated with either a great increase in Na or Cl "pumping" or a great decrease in Na or Cl "leak" in either collecting duct or ascending limb, or in both. The collecting duct and papillary interstitial cells both synthesize prostaglandins, which seem to have a profound effect on medullary net Na transport.