PGE(2) inhibits osmotic water permeability (P(f)) in the rat inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) via cellular events occurring after the stimulation of cAMP, i.e., post-cAMP-dependent events. The alpha(2)-agonists also inhibit P(f) in the rat IMCD via post-cAMP-dependent events. The purpose of this study was to determine whether PGE(2) plays a role in alpha(2)-mediated inhibition of P(f), Na(+), and urea transport in the rat IMCD. Isolated terminal IMCDs from Wistar rats were perfused to measure, in separate experiments, P(f), lumen-to-bath (22)Na(+) transport (J(lb)), and urea permeability (P(u)). Transport was stimulated with 220 pM arginine vasopressin (AVP) or 0.1 mM 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-cAMP (CPT-cAMP). Indomethacin was used to inhibit endogenous prostaglandin synthesis, and the alpha(2)-agonists clonidine, oxymetazoline, and dexmedetomidine were used to test the role of PGE(2) in the alpha(2)-mediated mechanism that inhibits transport. All agents were added to the bath. Indomethacin at 5 microM significantly elevated CPT-cAMP-stimulated P(f), J(lb), and P(u), and subsequent addition of 100 nM PGE(2) reduced these transport parameters. Indomethacin reversed alpha(2) inhibition of CPT-cAMP-stimulated P(f), J(lb), and P(u), and subsequent addition of PGE(2) reduced transport in each case. Indomethacin partially reversed alpha(2) inhibition of AVP-stimulated P(f), J(lb), and P(u), and PGE(2) reduced transport back to the alpha(2)-inhibited level. These results indicate that PGE(2) is a second messenger involved in the mechanism of transport inhibition mediated by alpha(2)-adrenoceptors via post-cAMP-dependent events in the rat IMCD.