Studies were carried out to explore the influence of dietary protein level on bone metabolism in uninephrectomized rat (experimental renal failure model) when dietary Ca and P contents were equal. Male rats were uninephrectomized or sham operated and fed 8%, 15% and 40% casein diets for 24 weeks. Ca and P contents of the all diet were 0.4% and 0.6% respectively. The results are summarized as follows. We did not found any significant difference in PTH and Ca level of the serum, Ca intake and Ca excretion among the experimental groups. There was significant positive correlation between the PTH and phosphate level. There was significant inverse correlation between serum Ca and creatinine level. The effect of the dietary protein level and renal mass loss on density and Ca contents of the bone were small and different according to the kinds of the bone. Low protein diet was associated with a significant enhancement of scapular density. Femur and vertebra density, however, were not influenced by dietary protein level and uninephrectomy. Light microscopic examination showed several calcified foci in the kidney in all experimental groups. Low protein diets have been used for a long time in the conservative management of chronic renal failure as they have a beneficial effect in preventing the appearance of symptoms. This study elucidated that part of beneficial effects of the low protein diet related to the suppression of the hyperphosphatemia. And these results, even though uninephrectomized rats fed high protein diet, the secondary hyperparathyroidism is supressed by the regulation of the P level. Therefore this study emphasized the need to pay more attention to the regulation of dietary P level as well as dietary protein content in chronic renal failure. (Korean J Nutrition 34(4): 359∼366, 2001)