The P2u class of nucleotide receptors is linked to mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ in many cell types, including the renal collecting duct cells. In the present studies, we examined the effects of nucleotides (ATP, UTP, and ADP; 10 microM each) on the arginine vasopressin (AVP, 0.1 nM)-stimulated osmotic water permeability (Pf) in in vitro perfused terminal inner medullary collecting ducts (IMCD) of rat. ATP or UTP, when added to the bath, decreased the AVP-stimulated Pf by approximately 40%. These effects were reversible upon withdrawal of the nucleotides. However, addition of ADP to the bath or sham exchange of the bath had no significant effect on the Pf. Furthermore, ATP did not have any significant effect on the Pf stimulated either by a membrane-permeant, nonhydrolyzable adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) analogue [8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-cAMP, 0.1 mM] o by forskolin (1 microM). In line with these findings, ATP decreased the AVP-stimulated cAMP levels in IMCD suspensions to approximately 68%. In addition, ATP did not exert an inhibitory effect on the AVP-stimulated Pf in the presence of calphostin C (150 nM), an inhibitor of protein kinase C. These results lead us to conclude the following: 1) agonist occupancy of the putative nucleotide receptor in the terminal IMCD causes an inhibition of AVP-stimulated Pf; and 2) this effect is due to a decrease in cellular cAMP levels, most likely resulting from activation of the phosphoinositide signaling pathway.