The in vitro hepatic 5'-monodeiodination of thyroxine (T4) to triiodothyronine (T3) in Oreochromis mossambicus, Channa striata, Clarias batrachus, Cyprinus carpio and Oxyeleotris marmorata was found to be time, pH and temperature dependent, and related to the amount of substrate (T4) and homogenate introduced into the reaction vessel, in a manner which was consistent with Menton-Michaelis kinetics, and thus indicative of an enzyme-regulated process. Dithiothreitol introduced into the reaction vessel stimulated T3 production in a dose-related manner.Hepatic 5'-monodeiodinase activity was also detected in a further 28 species of teleosts suggesting that the peripheral monodeiodination of T4, which is well-documented in salmonids, is also widespread amongst other teleost fishes. All species examined exhibited evidence of enzymatic deiodination, but there were marked differences in Km and Vmax values between the species. There was no apparent phylogenetic or environmental relationships to explain the widely divergent Km and/or Vmax values, nor was there a correlation between Km and Vmax when the species were considered together.