Glucose stimulates calcium transport in vitro in rat duodenal tissue and isolated enterocytes. Under short-circuited conditions, glucose increased mucosal to serosal calcium flux (JCa(m----s)) without altering serosal to mucosal calcium flux (JCa(s----m)) in the duodenum, the primary site of active calcium absorption in the rat small intestine. The half-maximal dose (ED50) of the glucose stimulatory effect was less than 1 mM, and an increase in JCa(m----s) of 80% over control was seen at a glucose concentration of 50 mM. Glucose did not increase calcium flux in the ileum where active calcium absorption is minimal. Glucose stimulated net calcium uptake by 35% in isolated duodenal enterocytes. Glucose did not alter calcium efflux from preloaded enterocytes suspended in calcium-free buffer. Glucose enhancement of net calcium uptake in enterocytes was not caused by altered cell membrane integrity or functional viability. The nonmetabolizable glucose analogue alpha-methylglucoside did not stimulate calcium transport. Our findings suggest that glucose can stimulate intestinal calcium absorption, at least partially, by enhancing transcellular calcium transport and that cellular glucose metabolism is necessary for stimulation of this route of calcium transport.