Outer medullary descending vasa recta (OMDVR) were perfused in vitro, and volume efflux was measured by driving water movement with transmural gradients of NaCl or albumin. Consistent with mediation by water channels, p-chloromercuribenzenesulfonic acid (pCMBS) markedly inhibited volume flux induced by NaCl. Dithiothreitol reversed the inhibition, pCMBS did not significantly alter water flux induced by albumin. Osmotic water permeability (Pf) of the pCMBS-sensitive pathway of glutaraldehyde-fixed and nonfixed OMDVR was 1,102 +/- 449 and 1,257 +/- 718 microns/s (means +/- SD), respectively. pCMBS reduced Pf to near zero, whereas diffusional water permeability in the same vessels was only slightly inhibited. Immunoreactive aquaporin-1 (AQP1) measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in collagenase-treated and untreated OMDVR was 5.2 +/- 1.0 and 4.2 +/- 0.4 fmol/mm, respectively, values that account well for the experimental Pf. We conclude that OMDVR water flux driven by NaCl gradients is most likely mediated by the AQP1 water channel and that NaCl and urea gradients drive water efflux in vivo by this route.