PC12 cells possess a bumetanide-sensitive Na/K/2Cl cotransport system similar to that found in other cell types. Between 10-15% of the total 86Rb influx in these cells is mediated by this pathway under normal conditions. The cotransporter has affinities of 16.5 mM for Nao and 0.7 mM for Ko, is absolutely dependent on Clo and is loop diuretic inhibitable (benzmetanide > bumetanide > piretanide > furosemide). The cotransporter can be activated (up to 8-fold) by cell shrinkage or (up to 4-fold) by treatment with the protein phosphatase inhibitors okadaic acid (EC50 approximately 650 nM) or calyculin A (EC50 approximately 8 nM). Cell shrinkage is followed by a bumetanide-sensitive regulatory volume increase as determined in cell sizing experiments. Calyculin A rapidly elevates normal cell volume in a diuretic-inhibitable manner. Cotransport activity and cell volume are also increased by nerve growth factor (NGF) treatment. The effect of NGF on cotransport rate is biphasic, with an initial rapid approximately 2.5-fold increase followed by a prolonged plateau, and is blocked by pretreatment of the cells with K252a (IC50 approximately 30 nM). By contrast, agents that raise cAMP or phorbol esters lead to an inhibition of cotransport, indicating that the NGF effect is not mediated by stimulation of either cAMP-dependent protein kinase or protein kinase C. Long term NGF treatment (> 2 days) leads to neurite formation and a maintained approximately 2-fold increase in cotransport activity. Bumetanide treatment does not affect the ability of cells to extend neurites, nor is the growth rate of cells in normal medium affected by the diuretic. These results suggest that the cotransport system in PC12 cells is acutely regulated by protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation as well as cell shrinkage and that cotransport activity may be up-regulated during neuronotypic differentiation.