There is limited data on intestinal lipid absorption in the nephrotic syndrome. This study investigated whether the efficiency of intestinal lipid absorption is altered in nephrotic lymph-fistula rats. The nephrotic syndrome was induced in nine Sprague-Dawley rats by an i.v. injection of puromycin aminonucleoside in saline; seven control rats received saline only. At 10 to 14 days after injection, the main intestinal lymph duct was cannulated for collection of lymph. The duodenum was also cannulated and a fasting saline-glucose solution was infused overnight at 3 mL/h. The next day, the infusate was changed to a lipid emulsion that contained (14C) cholesterol and (3H)triglyceride (triolein) that was infused at 3 mL/h for 8 h. During the last hour of fasting and during the lipid infusion, lymph flow in the Nephrotic group averaged 0.6 mL/h higher than the Control group (P = 0.02). No significant differences were found between the two groups in recovery of infused radioactive cholesterol (P = 0.37) or triglyceride (P = 0.38) from the gastrointestinal lumen, small intestinal mucosa, or lymph. Lymphatic output of chemically measured cholesterol was also similar (P = 0.96). These results suggest that mucosal uptake and lymphatic output of cholesterol and triglyceride are not altered in the nephrotic syndrome.