The effects of 24R,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [24,25(OH)2D3] on alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) were evaluated in pig kidney LLC-PK1 cells in culture. 2. The vitamin D3 metabolite increased ALP activity in these cells, whereas no effect of the hormone was observed on gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase and acid phosphatase activities. 3. ALP activity was stimulated after 3- to 12-hr incubation in the presence of 10(-9) mol/l 24,25(OH)2D3 with a maximum after 6 hr. 4. The hormonal induction of ALP activity was prevented by pretreatment of cells by actinomycin D. 5. It is proposed that 24,25(OH)2D3 could increase ALP activity by de novo protein synthesis.