The addition of substrate in the form of lactate (L), but not glucose (G), increases the respiration of canine thick ascending limb (TAL) segments in a saturable (above 2 mM) fashion. More than 60% of this stimulation is ouabain-sensitive (1 mM ouabain) even if L and G transport are both sodium-insensitive processes in TAL. Thus L, but not G, specifically stimulates Na+ entry in TAL cells and its subsequent transport by the Na+, K+-ATPase. If chloride is substituted for by gluconate, no significant substrate-induced stimulation of ouabain-sensitive respiration is observed. SITS (4-acetamino-4’-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2’-disulfonic acid) also interferes with the L-induced stimulation of respiration. Thus L entry in TAL appears to be directly or indirectly coupled to the transepithelial flux of Cl-. Furosemide (F) but not amiloride, also inhibits this stimulation suggesting that the accelerated Na+ entry triggered by the application of L occurs through the F-sensitive carrier or that lactate transport is F-sensitive in TAL cells. In accord, F specifically impairs the metabolism of L (as compared to G). These data suggest that in intact TAL tubules both lactate uptake and oxidation are directly or indirectly influenced by the transcellular flux of NaCl. This organization may participate to maintain a stoichiometry between the transport of NaCl and the availability of L to support the energetic needs of TAL ce