Experiments were performed on 26 acutely thyroparathyroidectomized (TPTX) Sprague-Dawley rats undergoing maximum water diuresis to determine whether the rise in urinary osmolality (Uosmol) in response to a submaximal dose of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) is modified by exogenous administration of parathyroid hormone (PTH). During administration of a submaximal dose of PTH to 11 TPTX rats, the ADH-induced increase in Uosmol averaged 267 +/- 15 mosmol, or twice the average increment of 131 +/- 18 mosmol observed when the same dose of ADH was given prior to PTH infusion (P < 0.001). This difference could not be attributed to changes in endogenous ADH release, renal hemodynamics, or solute excretion, and was not observed in a second group of eight other water-diuretic TPTX rats given sham PTH infusion. A third group of seven water-diuretic TPTX rats were studied with verapamil, a compound known to antagonize calcium ion entry into cells. Pretreatment of these rats with intravenous verapamil abolished the PTH potentiation of the Uosmol response to ADH described above. We conclude, therefore, that PTH enhances the Uosmol response to ADH, perhaps via a mechanism requiring a PTH-mediated change in the cellular calcium concentration or content of cells important in the urinary concentrating process.