The rat ventral prostate accumulated lindane (gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane) (0.59 +/- 0.07 ppm) when this liposoluble toxicant was injected subcutaneously at a concentration of 1 mg of 100 g body weight for 12 days. Total lipids and phospholipids (especially phosphatidylcholine) amounts were augmented in treated rats. Lindane had no significant influence upon cholesterol mass content in the ventral prostate. Using [1-14C]acetate as radioactive precursor, it was possible to conclude that the mass lipid variations caused by lindane treatment were due, at least in part, to a modification of the endogenous biosynthesis of these lipids. No changes were found in the acetate oxidation to CO2 when control rats and lindane-treated rats were compared.