Comparative models have played a major role in defining the mechanisms that enable vertebrate proximal tubules to transport organic anions and cations from the peritubular interstitium to the urine. The unique advantages of these models and their contributions to our understanding of organic anion and cation transport mechanisms are summarized here. Recent studies of the organic anion transport system suggest that transport is coupled to metabolic energy via indirect coupling to the sodium gradient. Organic anions enter the cell across the basolateral membrane in exchange for alpha-ketoglutarate (alpha-KG), and the alpha-KG is returned to the interior via Na-alpha-KG cotransport. Indirect coupling to Na has been demonstrated in both isolated membranes and intact renal epithelial cells of species ranging from marine crustaceans to mammals. This mechanism was shown to drive not only cellular accumulation but also secretory transepithelial fluxes of organic anions. Luminal exit of secreted organic anions appears to be carrier mediated but is, at present, poorly understood, with mediated potential-driven efflux and anion exchange-driven efflux implicated in some species. As for organic anions, the renal clearance of some organic cations approaches the renal plasma flow. Although there is considerable variation in the handling of specific substrates between species, the basic properties of organic cation transport include carrier-mediated potential-driven uptake at the basolateral membrane, intracellular sequestration that reduces the free concentration of the cation, and luminal exit by organic cation-proton exchange. Reabsorptive transport is also observed for some organic cations, but its mechanisms and driving forces are not well understood.