The capacity of exogenous amino acids to alter renal protein metabolism was studied during renal regeneration after mercuric chloride-induced acute tubular necrosis in the rat. In regenerating cortical tissue, the free leucine concentration was 17% lower than normal, and was decreased further after glucose infusion. The concentration was raised above normal by amino acid infusion thereby ameliorating the deficit of this amino acid. Synthesis and degradation of rapidly-turning over proteins in renal cortical cells was examined in vitro. Renal protein synthesis in cortical slices was assessed by measurements of tissue leucine specific radioactivity and cycloheximide-inhibitable [14C]leucine incorporation into protein. Protein synthesis in regenerating tissue was 52% higher than normal and was not increased further by glucose infusion. In contrast, amino acid infusion increased the rate 47% above that observed after an isocaloric glucose infusion, thereby demonstrating that amino acid enhancement of protein synthesis is superimposed upon the increased synthetic rate observed during renal regeneration. Renal protein degradation remained at the normal rate after amino acid infusion, but was increased in regenerating tissue and after glucose infusion. These results indicate that infused amino acids act on the kidney to enhance protein synthesis and reduce protein degradation in regenerating renal cells after acute tubular necrosis.