A rapid-filtration procedure was used to examine the effects of a wide variety of renal fuels on the uptake of p-aminohippuric acid (PAH) and uric acid (UA) by separated rabbit renal tubules. PAH and UA uptakes in 15 min over a range of substrate concentrations of 0.01-10.2 mM were determined. All tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates and pyruvate showed biphasic stimulation of PAH and UA uptake. alpha-Ketoglutarate produced a 320 +/- 54% increase in PAH uptake and a 192 +/- 60% increase in UA uptake at 0.16 mM, the concentration at which uptake was maximal, while causing 20 +/- 3 (PAH) and 35 +/- 7% (UA) inhibition at 10.2 mM. Citrate produced a 373 +/- 19% increase in PAH uptake and a 246 +/- 41% increase in UA uptake at 0.64 mM. PAH and UA uptake were also stimulated by acetate, glucose frutose, phosphoenolypyruvate and L-glutamic acid. The data indicate a direct relationship between stimulation of PAH and uric acid transport and stimulation of renal cortical oxidative metabolism.