We evaluated effects of psoralens on Cl- secretion (short-circuit current, I(sc)) across T84 monolayers. Methoxsalen failed to increase I(sc). Several observations suggest that psoralens open cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator Cl- channels. 1) After activation of the Ca2+-dependent basolateral membrane K+ channel (K(Ca)) by 1-ethyl-2-benzimidazolinone or thapsigargin, methoxsalen (10 microM) further increased I(sc). 2) When added before carbachol (CCh), methoxsalen potentiated the I(sc) response to CCh, as predicted, if it increased apical Cl- conductance. 3) After establishment of a mucosal-to-serosal Cl- gradient and permeabilization of basolateral membrane with nystatin, psoralens increased Cl- current, which was inhibited by glibenclamide. In contrast, neither TS-TM calix[4]arene nor Cd2+, inhibitors of outwardly rectifying Cl- channels and the ClC-2 Cl-channel, respectively, inhibited psoralen-induced Cl- current. In contrast to their effects on Cl- conductance, psoralens failed to significantly affect basolateral membrane K+ conductance; subsequent addition of 1-ethyl-2-benzimidazolinone induced a large increase in K+ conductance. Also, in excised patches, methoxsalen failed to activate K(Ca). In addition to potentiating the peak response to CCh, psoralens induced a secondary, sustained response. Indeed, when added up to 60 min after return of CCh-induced I(sc) to baseline, psoralens induced a sustained I(sc). This sustained response was inhibited by atropine, demonstrating the requirement for continuous muscarinic receptor activation by CCh. This sustained response was inhibited also by verapamil, removal of bath Ca2+, and charybdotoxin. These results suggest that return of I(sc) to baseline after CCh stimulation is not due to downregulation of Ca2+ influx or K(Ca). Finally, we obtained similar results with psoralens in rat colon and primary cultures of murine tracheal epithelium. On the basis of these observations, we conclude that psoralens represent a novel class of Cl- channel openers that can be used to probe mechanisms underlying Ca2+-mediated Cl- secretion.