We have confirmed that A6 cells (derived from kidney of Xenopus laevis), which contain both mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors, do not normally possess 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydroxgenase (11β-HSD1 or 11β-HSD2) enzymatic activity and so are without apparent “protective” enzymes. A6 cells do not convert the glucocorticoid corticosterone to 11-dehydrocorticosterone but do, however, possess steroid 6β-hydroxylase that transforms corticosterone to 6β-hydroxycorticosterone. This hydroxylase is cytochrome P-450 3A (CYP3A). We have now determined the effects of 3α,5β-tetrahydroprogesterone and chenodeoxycholic acid (both inhibitors of 11β-HSD1) and 11-dehydrocorticosterone and 11β-hydroxy-3α,5β-tetrahydroprogesterone (inhibitors of 11β-HSD2) and carbenoxalone, which inhibits both 11β-HSD1 and 11β-HSD2, on the actions and metabolism of corticosterone and active Na+ transport [short-circuit current ( I sc)] in A6 cells. All of these 11β-HSD inhibitory substances induced a significant increment in corticosterone-induced I sc, which was detectable within 2 h. However, none of these agents caused an increase in I sc when incubated by themselves with A6 cells. In all cases, the additional I sc was inhibited by the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonist, RU-28318, whereas the original I scelicited by corticosterone alone was inhibited by the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, RU-38486. In separate experiments, each agent was shown to significantly inhibit metabolism of corticosterone to 6β-hydroxycorticosterone in A6 cells, and a linear relationship existed between 6β-hydroxylase inhibition and the MR-mediated increase in I scin the one inhibitor tested. Troleandomycin, a selective inhibitor of CYP3A, inhibited 6β-hydroxylase and also significantly enhanced corticosterone-induced I sc at 2 h. These experiments indicate that the enhanced MR-mediated I sc in A6 cells may be related to inhibition of 6β-hydroxylase activity in these cells and that this 6β-hydroxylase (CYP3A) may be protecting the expression of corticosterone-induced active Na+ transport in A6 cells by MR-mediated mechanism(s).