To study whether a proton pump is an integral part of the mechanism responsible for secretin-dependent biliary secretion of HCO-3 ions, the proton pump inhibitor N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) was systemically administered to six anesthetized, secretin-infused pigs. Because biliary HCO-3 secretion varies with arterial pH, secretion rate was measured at several different arterial pH values, before and after DCCD (25 mumol/kg). At arterial pH 7.45, bile flow was 2.1 (1.6-2.9) ml/min, and HCO-3 secretion was 224 (157-311) mumol/min. DCCD reduced bile flow and HCO-3 secretion by 30% and 40%, respectively, independent of arterial pH. In contrast, bile acid secretion, 46 (41-59) mumol/min, was not changed by DCCD. The hepatic adenosine triphosphatase (ATP) level, 2.0 (1.8-2.1) mumol/g wet tissue, was not changed by DCCD. DCCD (10(-4) mol/l) affected neither Na,K-ATPase nor carbonic anhydrase activities in separate in vitro assay systems. The reduction in biliary HCO-3 secretion induced by the proton pump inhibitor DCCD may indicate that a proton pump is integrated into the mechanism responsible for secretin-dependent biliary secretion of HCO-3.