Examinations were made on substances that enhance or inhibit the induction of hepatoma in rats previously fed 3'-methyl-4-(dimethylamino)azobenzene (3'-Me-DAB) for a brief period. The substances tested were stilbene, 4-nitrostilbene, 4,4'-dihydroxystilbene, diethylstilbestrol, 17beta-estradiol, and methyltestosterone. Male Donryu rats were fed 0.5 g of 3'-Me-DAB by being maintained on a diet containing 0.06% 3'-Me-DAB, and then they were fed 0.25 or 0.5 g of a test substance with the basal diet. Comparison of the development and yield of hepatomas indicated that 4-nitrostilbene and methyltestosterone had an activity of enhancing 3'-Me-DAB carcinogenesis, whereas diethylstilbestrol and 17beta-estradiol had an activity to retard it. Other substances showed no such activities. The enhancement by 4-nitrostilbene and inhibition by diethylstilbestrol of 3'-Me-DAB carcinogenesis was correlated with their effect on liver nucleic acid metabolism. Feeding of 4-nitrostilbene caused a selective inhibition of Mn2+-(NH4)2SO4-activated RNA polymerase activity of liver nuclei and reduced liver RNA content. The deleterious alteration of liver RNA metabolism was followed by the enhancement in the incorporation of ip-injected 3H-thymidine into DNA of liver nuclei. On the other hand, feeding of diethylstilbestrol increased tissue RNA content without effect on RNA polymerase activity of liver nuclei, and had an activity of increasing the incorporation of 3H-thymidine into DNA. The possible implication of these results with regard to the enhancement and inhibition of hepatocarcinogenesis is discussed.