Foci of atypical acinar cells observed in male rats 1 year after a single injection of hydroxyaminoquinoline 1-oxide (HAQO) were assessed immunohistochemically for altered expression of a number of enzyme forms considered to play important roles in drug metabolism. The pancreatic lesions, classified as of either basophilic or eosinophilic type on histological appearance, demonstrated distinctive patterns of altered enzyme phenotype. On the one hand, the basophilic foci composed of enlarged cells/nuclei with very prominent nucleoli were characterized by increase in GST-P, G6PD and P450 PB1 and MC2 forms. The eosinophilic type, in contrast, comprised smaller cells demonstrating elevated P450 MC1 and PB1 but not MC2, normal G6PD and strong GST-P binding limited only to a proportion of the nuclei. Both shared decreased GGT and almost total lack of GST-B positive connective tissue and ductular elements. Apparent islet cell lesions and normal islet tissue were characterized by a distinct enzyme phenotype strongly positive for all P450 species investigated. The results indicate that HAQO-induced putative preneoplastic pancreatic lesions, like equivalent carcinogen associated with focal populations in liver, kidney and ductular pancreas, demonstrate a non-random altered expression of specific drug metabolizing enzyme species.