Isolated perfused rat kidneys were used to determine the contribution of filtration and tubular transport of cisplatin to its nephrotoxicity. Perfusion of kidneys with 0.5 mM cisplatin concomitantly reduced tubular reabsorption of electrolytes and glomerular filtration rate in a time-dependent manner. These renal functional changes were similar to those obtained following in vivo cisplatin treatment (10 mg/kg). In vitro exposure to cisplatin reduced the renal clearance of organic ions without reducing renal perfusate flow, suggesting that renal hemodynamic changes do not mediate cisplatin-induced proximal tubular dysfunction. Inhibition of organic ion transport also was observed in non-filtering perfused kidneys treated with 0.5 mM cisplatin, implying that filtration of cisplatin is not a prerequisite for induction of toxicity. These data also suggest that cisplatin transport from a basolateral site may be important in the development of acute nephrotoxicity.