A B S T R A C T The effects of glucose and parathyroid hormone (PTH) on the transport and metabolism of myoinositol (MI) and [2-3H] 1110 release were about coincidental with the increase in urinary cyclic 3',5'-AMP after PTH and preceded the peak phosphaturic effect of PTH. There was no detectable effect of PTH on MI synthesis from glucose as a source of the MI released into the urine and perfusate. However, PTH temporarily halted accumulation of tritiated MI catabolites. There was no effect of inactivated PTH on urinary cyclic 3',5'-AMP or on MI transport, which indicates that the PTH effect on MI handling was a specific hormonal effect. These studies clarify the renal metabolism of MI, and they demonstrate heretofore unknown effects of PTH on the renal handling and metabolism of MI. The effects of PTH on renal MI metabolism have important implications in renal carbohydrate metabolism and phospholipid turnover.