Regulation of renal proximal transport by angiotensin II (Ang II) is biphasic: low concentrations (picomolar to nanomolar) stimulate reabsorption, but higher concentrations (nanomolar to micromolar) inhibit reabsorption. Traditionally, the stimulatory effect has been attributed to activation of protein kinase C and/or a decrease in intracellular cAMP, whereas the inhibitory action has been attributed to the activation of phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2 ) and the subsequent release of arachidonic acid. The Ang II receptor subtype responsible for these effects and the intracellular signaling pathways involved are not completely understood. We isolated proximal tubules from wild-type, Ang II type 1A receptor (AT 1A )-deficient, and group IVA cytosolic phospholipase A 2 (cPLA 2 ␣)-deficient mice, and compared their responses to Ang II. In wild-type mice, we found that the stimulatory and inhibitory effects of Ang II on Na ϩ -HCO 3 Ϫ cotransporter activity are both AT 1 -mediated but that ERK activation only plays a role in the former. The stimulatory effect of Ang II was also observed in AT 1A -deficient mice, suggesting that this occurs through AT 1B . In contrast, the inhibitory effects of Ang II appeared to be mediated by cPLA 2 ␣ activation because high-concentration Ang II stimulated Na ϩ -HCO 3 Ϫ cotransporter activity when cPLA 2 ␣ activity was abrogated by pharmacological means or genetic knockout. Consistent with this observation, we found that activation of the cPLA 2 ␣/P450 pathway suppressed ERK activation. We conclude that Ang II activates ERK and cPLA 2 ␣ in a concentration-dependent manner via AT 1 , and that the balance between ERK and cPLA 2 ␣ activities determines the ultimate response to Ang II in intact proximal tubules.