Rats, after cannulation of the common bile duct, duodenum and vena cava posterior were infused i.d. with sodium taurocholate to partially maintain the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids. Four-h i.V. infusions of glucagon, Boots secretin, Boots CCK and OP-CCK were continued together with bile acid administration. The bile was collected throughout the experiment and the bile volume, bile acid, phospholipid and cholesterol content in bile were determined. From these results molar lipid per cent and the lithogenic index were computed. During glucagon administration the lithogenic index was enhanced and molar per cent of phospholipids and cholesterol was greater, and that of bile acids was lower, than in rats deprived of hormone infusion. The effect of secretin upon the lithogenic index and the proportion of lipids was similar, although the rate of bile acid secreted was almost twice as high than that during glucagon infusion. When CCK was infused, despite enhanced per cent of bile acids, the lithogenic index was also higher than in the control group. No significant changes in both molar lipid composition and the lithogenic index were obtained when OP-CCK was applied. It is proposed that gastrointestinal hormones can affect bile lithogenicity through alterations of biliary lipid secretion.