The uptake of [3H]-labeled p-aminohippurate by brush-border and basolateral membrane vesicles isolated from rat renal cortex has been studied by a rapid filtration technique. Some characteristics of carrier-mediated transport for p-aminohippurate were demonstrated in basolateral membrane vesicles: the uptake was inhibited by probenecid or 4,4'-diisothiocyano-2,2'-disulfonic stilbene (DIDS), was saturable, was stimulated by the countertransport effect, and showed discontinuity in the Arrhenius plot. In contrast, brush-border membrane vesicles failed to display saturability of p-aminohippurate uptake and stimulation by the countertransport effect, although probenecid and DIDS reduced the uptake. Furthermore, p-aminohippurate uptake by brush-border membrane vesicles was influenced more sensitively by alteration in the membrane potential compared with that by basolateral membrane vesicles.