Classic (type I) renal tubular acidosis in children in attended by growth retardation and rickets, abnormalities that can be corrected by alkali therapy alone. We have employed the NH4Cl-treated rachitic chick as a model to investigate vitamin D metabolism in the acidotic state. NH4Cl ingestion for 96 h was associated with a rise in serum calcium, a significant decrease in blood pH (7.42 +/- 0.08 vs 7.30 +/- 0.08, P less than 0.005), decreased [3H]1,25(OH)2D3 following [3H]25OHD D3 injections, and enhanced metabolic clearance of administered [3H]1,25(OH)2D3. The data collectively suggest that metabolic acidosis in the chick alters the production and degradation of 1,25(OH)2D3.