We investigated the effect of homozygous genetic disruption of the murine cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) gene on regulation of the rates of Na+ absorption and Cl- secretion by nasal epithelia in cystic fibrosis (CF) mice. The basal in vivo nasal potential difference (PD; -28.8 +/- 1.8 mV, n = 10) and amiloride-sensitive PD (delta 13.8 +/- 1.0 mV, n = 10) were raised in CF mice compared with controls [-7.8 +/- 0.8 mV, n = 14 (basal); delta 4.5 +/- 0.7 mV, n = 14 (amiloride)], consistent with raised Na+ transport. In vitro studies of freshly excised nasal epithelia confirmed that CF epithelia exhibited a greater basal equivalent short-circuit current (Ieq; 63.5 +/- 12 microA/cm2, n = 15) vs. control (30.2 +/- 7.2 microA/cm2, n = 16) and amiloride-sensitive Ieq (delta 46.2 +/- 12.5 microA/cm2) vs. control (delta 11.3 +/- 4.5 microA/cm2). Tissue from normal mice failed to secrete Cl- in response to ionomycin (delta Ieq: -1.2 +/- 1.9 microA/cm2, n = 18), whereas CF murine tissue responded with a large rise in Ieq (delta 55.1 +/- 19.1 microA/cm2, n = 13). We conclude that CF murine nasal epithelia exhibit Na+ hyperabsorption, providing strong evidence for a regulatory link between CFTR and Na+ channel activity in airway epithelia. We speculate that upregulation of the Ca(2+)-mediated Cl- secretory pathway buffers the severity of airway disease in the CF mouse.