An iron chelate, ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA), induces acute renal proximal tubular necrosis, a consequence of free radical-mediated oxidative tissue damage, that eventually leads to a high incidence of renal adenocarcinoma in rodents. In the present study, we investigated the free radical-induced oxidative stress response in this carcinogenesis model, focusing on the expression of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) which catalyze the conjugation of reactive chemicals with glutathione and play an important role in protecting cells. A single intraperitoneal Fe-NTA treatment (15 mg Fe/kg body weight) induced a rapid oxidative stress, which was monitored by the accumulation of lipid peroxidation products and the loss of sulfhydryl contents in the kidneys, resulting in a 30% reduction of GST activity 1 h after an Fe-NTA treatment. The enzyme activity returned to the control level after 16 h. The immunoblot analysis of GST isozymes demonstrated that the level of alpha-class GSTs (GST-Ya and GST-Yc) and pi-class GST (GST-Yp), major GST isozymes constitutively produced in the kidney, decreased immediately within 1 h of the Fe-NTA treatment. The onset of the recovery of GST-Yp protein levels was detected 3 h after the Fe-NTA treatment. The enhanced production of GST-Yp in gene expression was evident in the drastic elevation of mRNA levels and these increases coincided with a substantial rise in the GST activity and protein levels. The alpha-class GSTs were not inducible by treatment with Fe-NTA. The immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that the expression of GST-Yp was strongly induced in the regenerating proximal tubular cells. A steady accumulation of GST-Yp protein was observed in the subacute toxicity experiments with multiple injections of Fe-NTA. These results suggest that the enhanced expression of GST-Yp is important in mediating cell repairs or increasing the resistance to subsequent injury.