The uptake of nutrients was investigated in the renal cortical brush border membrane (BBM) vesicles at different stages of ascending pyelonephritis. There was significant difference (p less than 0.05) in the uptake of D-glucose, L-alanine, L-aspartate, L-lysine and L-proline 3 days postinfection and onwards in both right unobstructed and left obstructed experimental kidneys as compared to the sham operated control. The uptake of D-glucose, L-lysine and L-proline was found to be significantly decreased (p less than 0.05) during the course of infection. While uptake of L-alanine and L-aspartate increased (p less than 0.05) in early stages and decreased (p less than 0.05) in later stages of infection. The differential effect was attributed to the compensatory measure and different kinds of transport systems for different types of amino acids.