The acute renal effects of the fungicide N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)succinimide (NDPS) were studied in male Sprague-Dawley rats. NDPS (50 mg/kg, i.p.) increased urine volume and decreased food intake and body weight at 24 h but not 48 h. No change in urine content or the accumulation by renal cortical slices of the organic anion p-aminohippurate (PAH) or the organic cation tetraethylammonium (TEA) was observed with 50 mg/kg NDPS when compared to control animals. Rats receiving 100 or 200 mg/kg NDPS (i.p.) exhibited increased urine volume, proteinuria, glucosuria, decreased food intake and body weight, increased BUN and decreased accumulation of PAH and TEA at both 24 h and 48 h. These effects were generally more pronounced at the 200 mg/kg dose level. Pair-fed control experiments demonstrated that renal effects were NDPS-induced and not related to daily food consumption. NO change in water intake was observed with any dose of NDPS used. The results demonstrate that NDPS alters renal function in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, NDPS (50 mg/kg) is capable of producing diuresis without apparent nephrotoxicity while doses of 100 mg/kg or more produce diuresis and nephrotoxicity.