Previous studies have shown that the experimental agricultural fungicide N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)succinimide (NDPS) produces acute nephrotoxicity via a reactive intermediate in Sprague-Dawley and Fischer-344 rats. The purpose of this study was to examine if an arene oxide intermediate is a toxic metabolite contributing to NDPS-induced nephropathy in rats. N-(3,4,5-Trichlorophenyl)succinimide (NTPS) was prepared to prevent arene oxide formation of NDPS, and its nephrotoxic potential was determined in Sprague-Dawley and Fischer-344 rats. Rats were administered a single intraperitoneal injection of NTPS (0.4 or 1.0 mmol/kg) or sesame oil (2.5 ml/kg), and renal function was monitored at 24 and 48 h. NTPS (0.4 or 1.0 mmol/kg) administration produced diuresis, proteinuria, glucosuria, hematuria, decreased accumulation of p-aminohippurate (PAH) and tetraethylammonium (TEA), and increased blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and kidney weight in both strains. Extensive proximal tubular necrosis was observed in both strains of rat. The magnitude of these effects was similar to those previously reported for NDPS-induced nephrotoxicity in Sprague-Dawley and Fischer-344 rats. It was concluded that an arene oxide metabolite does not contribute to the nephrotoxic potential of NDPS. The results of the present study indicate that lipophilic character alone is not a good predictor of the nephrotoxic potential for NDPS and NTPS.