<jats:p>Extracellular acidosis has been demonstrated to play a key role in the process of metabolic depression under long-term environmental stress, exemplified in the marine invertebrate Sipunculus nudus. These findings led to the hypothesis that acid-base regulation is associated with a visible cost depending on the rate and mode of H(+)-equivalent ion exchange. To test this hypothesis, the effects of different ion-transport inhibitors on the rate of pH recovery during hypercapnia, on energy turnover and on steady-state acid-base variables were studied in isolated body wall musculature of the marine worm Sipunculus nudus under control conditions (pHe 7.90) and during steady-state extracellular acidosis (pHe 7.50 or 7.20) by in vivo (31)P-NMR and oxygen consumption analyses. During acute hypercapnia (2 % CO(2)), recovery of pHi was delayed at pHe 7.5 compared with pHe 7.9. Inhibition of the Na(+)/H(+)-exchanger by 5-(N,N-dimethyl)-amiloride (DMA) at pHe 7.5 delayed recovery even further. This effect was much smaller at pHe 7.9. Inhibition of anion exchange by the addition of the transport inhibitor 4, 4′-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2′-disulphonic acid (DIDS) prevented pH recovery at pHe 7.5 and delayed recovery at pHe 7.9, in accordance with an effect on Na(+)-dependent Cl(−)/HCO(3)(−) exchange. The effects of ouabain, DIDS and DMA on metabolic rate were reduced at low pHe, thereby supporting the conclusion that acidosis caused the ATP demand of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase to fall. This reduction occurred via an inhibiting effect on both Na(+)/H(+)- and Na(+)-dependent Cl(−)/HCO(3)(−) (i.e. Na(+)/H(+)/Cl(−)/HCO(3)(−)) exchange in accordance with a reduction in the ATP demand for acid-base regulation during metabolic depression. Considering the ATP stoichiometries of the two exchangers, metabolic depression may be supported by the predominant use of Na(+)/H(+)/Cl(−)/HCO(3)(−) exchange under conditions of extracellular acidosis.</jats:p>