In vitro, addition of taurine to liver homogenates increases the proportion of cholic acid conjugated with taurine. In the present study, the relation between hepatic taurine concentration and the proportion of infused sodium cholate conjugated with taurine was studied in the whole organ. The isolated perfused liver was studied to eliminate possible transfer of taurine to or from the large extrahepatic poosl present in vivo. During cholate infusion, the proportion of taurocholate excreted in bile decreased, and the proportion of glycocholate increased in a complementary fashion. Infusion of taurine with cholate prevented these changes. Hepatic taurine concentration, calculated from measured hepatic taurine concentrations before and at the end of cholate infusion, fell. Fall in proportion of total bile acid excreted as taurocholate was most rapid at low hepatic taurine concentrations between about 1.4 and 0.65 mumol/g liver. Hepatic taurine concentrations is a major determinant of the proportion of bile acid conjugated with taurine.