We have determined the ability of two human ovarian carcinoma cells to over-express metallothioneins (MTs) and the subsequent effect this elevation has on DDP cytotoxicity. Cells of 2008 and COLO 316 human ovarian carcinomas that were resistant to CdCl₂ were obtained by stepwise selection and chronic culture in CdCl₂ and ZnCl₂. The 2008/MT cells were 3.2-fold resistant to CdCl₂ and 4.1-fold resistant to DDP; they had 23-fold elevated MTs. The COLO/MT cells were 1.2-fold resistant to CdCl₂ and 3.3-fold resistant to DDP, and they had 9-fold elevated MTs. Glutathione (GSH) was also elevated in the Cd-resistant sublines. However, four times more intracellular thiols were contributed by the MTs than by the GSH. 2008 and 2008/MT cells were examined in more detail to elucidate the mechanism of DDP resistance. Depletion of GSH with D,L-buthionine-S,R-sulfoximine (BSO) had no effect on the sensitivity of these cells to either CdCl₂ or DDP. Uptake of [^195m Pt]DDP in 2008 and 2008/MT cells was identical. Fractionation of the cytosol from [^195mPt]DDP-exposed cells on Sephadex G-75 revealed that 17% of the total cellular Pt in 2008/MT cells was associated with the MT fraction, as against 4% in the parent 2008 cells. This increase corresponded to a concomitant loss of Pt from the particulate fraction. Fractionation of 2008 cells selected with DDP (2008/DDP cells) indicated that elevated MTs did not contribute to the DDP resistance of these cells. Only 2% of the total cellular Pt was in the MT fraction in 2008/DDP cells. These results showed that elevation of MTs may be one mechanism of DDP resistance in ovarian carcinoma; however, in vitro selection with DDP does not trigger this mechanism.