Both aldosterone and luminal vasopressin may contribute to the maintenance of acid-base homeostasis, but the functional relationship between these hormones is not well understood. The effects of luminal vasopressin likely result from its interaction with V1a receptors on the luminal membranes of intercalated cells in the collecting duct. Here, we found that mice lacking the V1a receptor exhibit type 4 renal tubular acidosis. The administration of the mineralocorticoid agonist fludrocortisone ameliorated the acidosis by restoring excretion of urinary ammonium via increased expression of Rhcg and H-K-ATPase and decreased expression of H-ATPase. In a cell line of intercalated cells established from transgenic rats expressing the mineralocorticoid and V1a receptors, but not V2 receptors, knockdown of the V1a receptor gene abrogated the effects of aldosterone on H-K-ATPase, Rhcg, and H-ATPase expression. These data suggest that defects in the vasopressin V1a receptor in intercalated cells can cause type 4 renal tubular acidosis and that the tubular effects of aldosterone depend on a functional V1a receptor in the intercalated cells. Aldosterone and vasopressin regulates the acidbase balance by proton secretion through reabsorption of bicarbonate and the excretion of ammonium and titratable acid mainly in the collecting ducts. [1][2][3][4] Principal and intercalated cells are present in the collecting ducts. 1,2 Vasopressin regulates sodium and water transport via the V2 receptor (V2R) in the basolateral membrane of the principal cells and subsequent activation of aquaporin 2 and amiloride-sensitive epithelial sodium channel (ENaC), which is also regulated by aldosterone. 5 Although vasopressin is known to act as an anti-diuretic hormone, findings regarding the effects of luminal (urinary) vasopressin have shown that luminal vasopressin acts as an intrinsic diuretic and regulates the anti-diuretic effects of basolateral vasopressin. 6 The effect of luminal vasopressin has been thought to be caused via V1a receptor (V1aR), probably in the luminal membrane of the intercalated cells, given that V2R is not present in the luminal membrane of the collecting ducts. 6 -9 Al-