To disclose a parathyroid-independent calcium modulation of phosphate transport along the nephron, the effect of increasing plasma calcium concentration to subnormal levels in rats 6 days after parathyroidectomy (chronic PTX) was studied. Fractional phosphate reabsorption was significantly increased. The whole kidney response to calcium infusion was similar whether or not the thyroid gland was removed, which suggests that calcitonin is not involved. The micropuncture study indicated an increase in the reabsorptive capacity for phosphate (absolute reabsorption/absolute delivered phosphate per nephron segment) in the proximal tubule, the loop, and the terminal nephron when calcium was infused. Thus, the level of plasma calcium or some related factor affects the phosphate transport by the tubule independently of parathyroid hormone. With calcium infusion, the profile of phosphate reabsorption along the nephron became close to that of acutely parathyroidectomized rats, but with persisting differences. The level of plasma calcium concentration may partly account for the differences between the acute and the chronic steps of parathyroidectomy. The role of possible interferences between alterations of extracellular calcium concentration or some related factor and the adenylate cyclase-cyclic AMP system in such an action of calcium was evaluated. Cyclic AMP was infused so as to achieve a 10(-6) M plasma concentration. Combined infusions of calcium and cyclic AMP were also performed. The results are compatible with calcium inhibition of adenylate cyclase, although they do not rule out a direct action of calcium.