Osmoregulation in inner medullary cells depends in part on cellular accumulation of sorbitol, the production of which from glucose is catalyzed by aldose reductase. To identify nephron segments that contain aldose reductase, we developed a fluorometric ultramicroassay to measure aldose reductase activity in microdissected nephron segments from collagenase-treated kidneys of Sprague-Dawley rats. DL-Glyceraldehyde (10 mM) was used as a substrate. Substantial aldose reductase activities were found in all three inner medullary renal tubule segments: thin descending limbs, thin ascending limbs, and inner medullary collecting ducts. Activity increased with depth into the inner medulla in all three segments. When aldose reductase activities were normalized by cell volume the activities in the three inner medullary segments were similar. Little or no aldose reductase activity was measured in glomeruli or any cortical or outer medullary nephron segment. Both proximal convoluted and proximal straight tubules were found to have a substantial capacity to reduce DL-glyceraldehyde, but the finding of greater reductase activity with D-glucuronate (10 mM) than with D-xylose (10 mM) indicated that the activity was due to aldehyde reductase. Sorbitol dehydrogenase (measured by a similar ultramicroassay method) was present in substantial amounts in proximal tubules, but not in inner medullary collecting ducts. The overall pattern of enzyme activities is consistent with the proposed osmoregulatory role for sorbitol in all three inner medullary renal tubule segments.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)