Determination of tributyltin and its metabolites, dibutyltin and monobutyltin, in biological materials was made by capillary gas chromatography (C-GC) using a flame photometric detector (FPD). Butyltin compounds (BuTC) were extracted (as bromides) from tissue homogenates with hydrobromic acid and ethyl acetate. These compounds were converted to pentyl derivatives with pentyl Grignard reagent and then analysed by C-GC. The recoveries of each BuTC added to tissues were 96-99% for monobutyltin, 87-93% for dibutyltin and 90-93% for tributyltin. The detection limit of BuTC was 4-5 pg as tin. This method was applied to the analysis of BuTC in the liver and kidney of rats orally administered tributyltin chloride. Time course of three BuTC showed that the maximum value appeared 24 h after administration of the tin compound, which was followed by a rapid decrease. The order of the concentration of BuTC in both organs was dibutyltin greater than tributyltin greater than monobutyltin. The rate of dealkylation was more rapid in liver than in kidney.