After ingestion of a mixed diet containing a tracer dose (10 muCi) of L-[1-14C]leucine (Leu), 32 male Sprague-Dawley rats (70-90 g) remained at rest (R) or completed 1 h exercise at 80 (E80) or 40% VO2max (E40). 14CO2 production was assessed for 6 h (exercise occurred from h 2 to 3). Four rats were killed at 2, 3, 4, and 6 h (R), at 3 and 6 h (E80), and at 6 h (E40). Determinations were 1) tissue specific activity dpm X mumol-1 from a) mixed skeletal muscle (gastrocnemius, soleus, quadriceps, and hamstrings) and b) liver and 2) radioactivity remaining in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Leu oxidized (mumol) was estimated (14 CO2 dpm X tissue sp act dpm-1 X mumol-1) independently from skeletal muscle and liver. Results were 1) 14CO2 production increased in both E80 and E40 compared with R (P less than 0.05), 2) E80 14CO2 increase was greater than E40 (P less than 0.05), 3) GIT absorption was reduced in E80 and E40 compared with R (P less than 0.05), and 4) exercise Leu oxidation (weighted average of tissue estimates) was 26% greater than R (P less than 0.05). The origin and site of the increased Leu oxidation cannot be determined from the present data; however, due to the magnitude of increase in skeletal muscle metabolism relative to other tissues during exercise, it is probable that skeletal muscle plays a significant role.