The activities of three mitochondrial oxidative enzymes (citrate synthase, 3-ketoacid-CoA transferase, beta-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase) and Na-K-ATPase were microassayed in isolated segments of the rat proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) and medullary thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle (mTAL). The effects of adrenalectomy (ADX) and ADX plus exogenous glucocorticoids were analyzed. The hormonal replacement was daily injections of dexamethasone (10 micrograms/100 g body weight/24 h) for 5 days. ADX lowered the activity of all oxidative enzymes studies in the mTAL, but not in the PCT and led to a decrease in Na-K-ATPase in both nephron segments. Dexamethasone restored the normal level of oxidative enzymes and Na-K-ATPase in the mTAL and of Na-K-ATPase in the PCT. We conclude that the activities of citrate synthase, 3-ketoacid-CoA transferase and beta-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase and of Na-K-ATPase are coordinately regulated in the mTAL and that glucocorticoids are essential for the long-term regulation of these enzyme activities in this nephron segment. In contrast, the activities of mitochondrial oxidative enzymes are not influenced by glucocorticoids in the PCT. This study presents the first evidence for a cell-specific regulation by glucocorticoids of oxidative metabolism in the nephron of adult rat kidney.