Sodium ion dependent glutamate transport into rabbit renal brush border membrane vesicles is stimulated by low external pH and inhibited by low internal pH. Imposition of a pH difference (delta pH) (interior alkaline) across the vesicle membrane drives glutamate accumulation in the absence of other driving forces. This process requires Na+ but is not due to generation of an Na+ gradient in response to delta pH. Internal K+ stimulates both the rate and extent of glutamate accumulation, although K+ is not absolutely required for transport. Internal H+ inhibits the rate of glutamate accumulation by decreasing this K+ stimulation. Conversely, external K+ inhibits glutamate influx, and this inhibition can be overcome by lowering the external pH. These results indicate that H+ is cotransported with glutamate and suggest the possibility that, in the absence of internal K+, H+ can also fulfill the requirement for a countertransported ion.