MDCK-I cells, grown on collagen-coated filters, were used as a model of the distal nephron to study the nonionic diffusion of salicylic acid. The apparent transcellular permeability (PSal, centimeters per second) and intracellular content (ContSal, picomoles) of [14C]salicylic acid (ionized and nonionized) were measured from both apical-to-basolateral and basolateral-to-apical unidirectional fluxes. During the measurement of apical-to-basolateral fluxes at 21 degrees C, both PSal and ContSal correlated directly with the proportion of nonionized salicylic acid in the apical medium over the pH range 6.0-7.4. This indicated that the observed permeability was due to pure nonionic diffusion. However, in the basolateral-to-apical direction, the correlation was less evident and ContSal was 10 to 20 times higher, although PSal was of the same magnitude. These observations could not be explained by facilitated transport of anionic salicylic acid, at 21 degrees C, because 1 mM probenecid, 1 mM p-aminohippurate and 1 mM cold salicylic acid did not abolish the higher intracellular content obtained during basolateral-to-apical fluxes. Raising the temperature produced only a gradual increase of PSal measured in the basolateral-to-apical direction and an unexpected decrease of ContSal. Because basolateral-to-apical facilitated transport does not play a significant role, the most plausible reason for the higher ContSal during basolateral-to-apical fluxes is that the apical membrane possesses a much lower (10- to 20-fold less) salicylic acid permeability than the basolateral membrane and constitutes the rate-limiting step for transcellular salicylic acid flux.