In 9 conscious dogs (4 of whom were alcohol-fed for 24 months with 50% intragastric ethanol), provided with gastric and duodenal fistulae (Thomas cannula), the effects were studied of an acute iv ethanol infusion (1.3 g/kg) on hepatic bile secretory plateau levels after emptying of the gallbladder was induced by a continuous perfusion of secretin (0.5 CU/kg/hr) plus CCK-PZ (8 Crick-Harper-Raper U/kg/hr) and sodium taurocholate (0.62 mumol/kg/min). Acute iv ethanol infusion in nonalcoholic dogs reduced hepatic bile flow rate (29%), bile salt concentration (55%) and output (67%). In alcohol-fed dogs, acute iv ethanol reduced only the rate of flow (25%). Hepatic bile salt concentration and output plateau values were significantly higher in the alcohol-fed than in the nonalcoholic dogs. There were no significant differences between the two groups of dogs in the rate of evacuation, bile salt output, or lipid composition of gall bladder bile following a single iv injection of CCK-PZ.