An evaluation of the potential role of the kidney in the regulation of the blood citrate level under different acid-base statuses and various diets was performed. Twenty-four hours after bilateral nephrectomy there was a highly significant increase in the blood citrate concentrations in female rats, whereas the blood citrate levels either remained unchanged or decreased in bilateral nephrectomized male animals. Our data clearly indicate a key role of sex dependency on kidney citrate metabolism in the rat.