The ability of liver slices from eight species to synthesize and secrete triacylglycerol from nonesterified fatty acids contained in media was investigated. Species were grouped according to the relative proportion of lipogenesis occurring in the liver. The rate of liver triacylglycerol synthesis from nonesterified fatty acids in media was similar among species studied. Liver slices from species in which the liver contribution to lipogenesis is minor (sheep, cattle, pig and guinea pig) secreted less triacylglycerol synthesized from nonesterified fatty acids than did liver slices from species in which lipogenesis occurs predominantly in the liver (chicken and fish) or in liver and adipose tissue (rat and rabbit). The results suggest that the ability of liver to secrete triacylglycerol in very low density lipoproteins is proportional to the liver's lipogenic capacity.