The present study was designed to elucidate whether cephaloridine-induced lipid peroxidation is inhibited by probenecid, cobalt chloride and antioxidants such as alpha-tocopherol and N,N'-diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine (DPPD). Kidney slices obtained from the renal cortex of male Wistar rats were incubated for 1 h in a cephaloridine or cefotaxime (1.25-10 mg/ml) containing medium. In another series of experiments, kidney slices were incubated with cephaloridine or cefotaxime (5 mg/ml) for different periods of time (30-120 min). Lipid peroxidation was monitored by measuring the production of malondialdehyde (MDA). Subsequently, kidney slices were incubated in both series of experiments, in a cephalosporin free medium containing tetraethylammonium (TEA). Accumulation of TEA in renal cortical slices, expressed as slice to medium ratio (S/M), was used to measure changes in the transport capacity of the kidney cells. While cefotaxime had only a slight effect, cephaloridine induced a significant time- and concentration-dependent increase of MDA production and a significant time- and concentration-dependent decrease of TEA accumulation. Inhibition of the renal uptake of cephaloridine by probenecid induced a decrease in MDA production and complete recovery of TEA accumulation. The antioxidants DPPD and alpha-tocopherol inhibited cephaloridine-induced lipid peroxidation in a concentration-dependent manner. Recovery of TEA accumulation accompanied the decrease in lipid peroxidation. DPPD was a more potent inhibitor of lipid peroxidation than alpha-tocopherol. Cobalt chloride, known for its ability to decrease cellular concentration of cytochrome P-450, effectively decreased cephaloridine-induced lipid peroxidation. Thus, these findings support the concept that lipid peroxidation has an important role in the development of cephaloridine-induced nephrotoxicity.