We have previously demonstrated that cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity is associated with the induction of apoptosis using mouse renal cells derived from the terminal proximal tubule (S3) which is the major target site of cisplatin-induced injury. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the intracellular mechanisms leading to the cisplatin-induced apoptosis of S3 cells. Actinomycin D (an inhibitor of RNA synthesis), cycloheximide (an inhibitor of protein synthesis) and aurintricarboxylic acid (an endonuclease inhibitor) reduced the extent of DNA fragmentation, a biochemical parameter of apoptosis, in cisplatin-treated S3 cells. Furthermore, cisplatin-induced apoptosis of S3 cells was accompanied by an increase in the level of c-fos mRNA expression, which is inhibited by pretreatment of the cells with actinomycin D, but not with cycloheximide or aurintricarboxylic acid. In contrast, outer medullary collecting duct cells treated with cisplatin exhibited morphological changes characteristic of apoptosis and an increase in the level of c-fos mRNA expression, but no increase in the extent of DNA fragmentation. In conclusion, the synthesis of macromolecules such as RNA and protein, endonuclease activation and c-fos expression appear to be involved in the intracellular pathways leading to the induction of apoptosis in cisplatin-treated S3 cells. In addition, the response to cisplatin may be different in different cells.