The concentration of hepatic fatty acid-binding protein was determined in the livers of rats at various stages of development from foetus to young adult. Fatty acid-binding protein concentrations were determined by quantifying the fluorescence enhancement on the binding of the fluorescent probe 11-(dansylamino)-undecanoic acid. A 20-fold increase in the concentration of the protein was observed between the foetus and adult, and this increase was confirmed by immuno-blotting. No other protein in the 14,000-Mr range was observed in the foetus. Possible alternative fatty acid-binding proteins could not be detected in h.p.l.c.-fractionated foetal cytosol by the fluorescence-enhancement method.