Previously we demonstrated that ANG II receptor (AT1R) blockade attenuates V2 receptor (V2R), AQP2, and pS256-AQP2 downregulation in the postobstructed kidney and partially reverses obstruction-induced inhibition of cAMP generation and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) induction. Therefore, we speculated whether the effects of AT1R blockade on V2R and the vasopressin-regulated pathway are attributable to attenuated COX-2 induction. To examine this, rats were subjected to 24-h bilateral ureteral obstruction (BUO) followed by 48-h release and treated with the COX-2 inhibitor parecoxib or saline. Control rats were sham-operated. Parecoxib treatment significantly reduced urine output 24 h after release of BUO whereas urine osmolality and solute-free water reabsorption was comparable between saline-and parecoxib-treated BUO rats. Immunoblotting revealed a significant decrease in AQP2 and pS256-AQP2 abundance to 20 and 23% of sham levels in parecoxib-treated BUO rats compared with 40 and 55% of sham levels in saline-treated BUO rats. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the exacerbated AQP2 and pS256-AQP2 downregulation in parecoxib-treated BUO rats. Finally, parecoxib treatment had no effect on V2R downregulation and the inhibited, vasopressin-stimulated cAMP generation in inner medullary membrane fractions from the postobstructed kidney. In conclusion, COX-2 inhibition exacerbates AQP2 and pS256-AQP2 downregulation 48 h after release of 24-h BUO independently of V2R abundance and vasopressin-stimulated cAMP generation. The results indicate that COX-2 inhibition does not mimic AT1R blockade-mediated effects and that AT1R-mediated AQP2 regulation in the postobstructed kidney collecting duct is independent of COX-2 induction. prostaglandin E2; AQP2; vasopressin; ureteral obstruction THE POSTOBSTRUCTED KIDNEY exhibits a markedly reduced urinary concentrating capacity due to decreased abundance of major renal transport proteins (15,22,27,28). Importantly, the vasopressin type 2 receptor (V2R) and vasopressin-regulated transport proteins are downregulated, causing vasopressinresistant polyuria (20,51,55). A number of hormone/signaling systems contribute to postobstructive kidney disease, including the prostanoid system (13,26,32,36) and the renin-angiotensin-system (RAS) (21,40,56).The most abundant prostaglandin in the kidney, prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ), is involved in the regulation of kidney water and salt handling. In the medullary thick ascending limb (TAL), PGE 2 acutely blunts vasopressin-stimulated NaCl transport and cAMP generation (9, 46, 49) and the long-term effect of PGE 2 is downregulation of the vasopressin-regulated Na-K-2Cl cotransporter (NKCC2) (12). Similar PGE 2 -mediated effects are observed in the isolated rabbit cortical collecting duct (CD) (3,19,45,49), but parallel studies in rat collecting ducts have not yet been able to confirm an inhibitory effect of PGE 2 on cAMP generation (3, 4, 31, 49). However, PGE 2 does inhibit vasopressin-stimulated water permeability in rat inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) ind...