Urine is an abundant source of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and prepro-EGF has been localized to the thick ascending limb and distal convoluted tubule of the kidney. However, the functional role of EGF in the kidney is poorly understood. Determination of EGF receptors and functional responses to EGF in intrarenal structures distal to the site of renal EGF production may prove critical to our understanding of the role of this peptide. These studies were designed to investigate the response to EGF of rat inner medullary collecting duct cells in culture and in freshly isolated suspensions. Primary cultures of inner medullary collecting duct cells demonstrated equilibrium binding of 125I-labeled EGF at 4 and 23 degrees C. At 23 degrees C, there was 89 +/- 1% specific binding (n = 30). Scatchard analysis of 125I-EGF binding suggested the presence of both high-affinity binding with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 5 X 10(-10) M and maximal binding sites (Ro) of 2.7 X 10(3) binding sites/cell and low-affinity binding, with Kd of 8.3 X 10(-9) M and Ro of 1.8 X 10(4) binding sites/cell. Bound EGF, 68 +/- 3%, was internalized by 45 min. EGF binding was not inhibited by antidiuretic hormone, atrial natriuretic peptide or bradykinin at 23 degrees C, but there was concentration-dependent inhibition of binding by transforming growth factor-alpha. Incubation with phorbol myristate acetate decreased 125I-EGF binding in a concentration-dependent manner. 125I-EGF binding was also demonstrated in freshly isolated suspensions of rat inner medullary collecting duct cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)