The experimental fungicide N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)succinimide (NDPS) has been shown to produce selective nephrotoxicity at least in part through the actions of one or more metabolites. The purpose of this study was to (1) determine the nephrotoxic potential of three known NDPS metabolites; N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-2-hydroxysuccinimide (NDHS), N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-2-hydroxysuccinamic acid (NDHSA), and N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)malonamic acid (DMA) and (2) examine the role of renal biotransformation in NDPS-induced nephrotoxicity. In one set of experiments, male Fischer 344 rats were administered a single intraperitoneal (ip) injection of NDPS or a NDPS metabolite (0.2, 0.4, or 1.0 mmol/kg) or vehicle (sesame oil, 2.5 ml/kg) and renal function was monitored at 24 and 48 hr. Both NDHS and NDHSA administration (0.2 or 0.4 mmol/kg) resulted in nephrotoxicity similar to that produced by NDPS (0.4 or 1.0 mmol/kg). DMA administration resulted in only minor renal effects. Addition of NDPS to renal cortical slices prepared from naive Fischer 344 rats resulted in decreases in p-aminohippurate (PAH) and tetraethylammonium (TEA) accumulation at NDPS media concentrations of 10(-4) and 10(-5) M or greater, respectively. Pretreatment of rats with microsomal enzyme activity modifiers (phenobarbital, 3-methylcholanthrene, cobalt chloride, or piperonyl butoxide) had little effect on in vitro effects of NDPS on PAH or TEA accumulation. A pattern of PAH or TEA uptake similar to that observed for NDPS was observed in vitro with NDPS-d4, a nonnephrotoxic analog of NDPS labeled on the succinimide ring with deuterium. Of the NDPS metabolites tested in vitro for nephrotoxicity, only NDHS produced decreases in PAH and TEA accumulation similar to those produced by NDPS. These results suggest that the NDPS metabolites NDHS and NDHSA are nephrotoxic compounds. However, the role of these metabolites in NDPS-induced nephrotoxicity remains to be determined. In addition, it appears that NDPS has direct effects on renal function, but these effects do not appear to be of major toxicological significance in vivo. Direct renal bioactivation of NDPS or its known metabolites to nephrotoxic species does not appear to occur in vitro.