The present studies indicate pronounced species-, sex-, and strain-related differences in the acute nephrotoxicity of hydroquinone (HQ) when administered by gavage to male and female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, Fischer 344 (F344) rats, and B6C3F1 mice. Following a single dose of 400 m g/kg, male and female F344 rats displayed pronounced enzymuria and glucosuria. In female F344 rats, urinary alkaline phosphatase and glucose were the most sensitive indicators of renal toxicity, reaching levels of, respectively, 157 times and 137 times control values within 24 h of dosing. HQ treatment of male F344 rats also resulted in significant enzymuria, although it was less marked than that seen in female F344 rats. Significant numbers of epithelial cells were also present in the urine from F344 rats at 200 (fem ale) or 400 mg/kg (male and female). SD rats did not show evidence of elevated levels of urinary enzymes or increased blood urea nitrogen (BUN) after oral adm inistration of HQ at a dose level of 400 m g/kg. Oral administration of HQ to male and female B6C3F1 mice at 350 mg/kg resulted in only slight but significant increases in BUN.