Hepatocytes were isolated from noninbred Sprague-Dawley rats previously fed diets containing 7.5 or 15% protein. These hepatocytes were incubated in the presence of exogenous DNA for examination of their ability to metabolize 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene [(DMBA) CAS: 57-97-6] and release reactive DNA-binding metabolites to the medium. An increased formation of extracellular water-soluble metabolites of DMBA was observed in hepatocyte cultures from rats fed a 15% protein diet compared with that in cells from rats fed 7.5% protein. As dietary protein increased, there was a reduction in the release of DNA-binding metabolites by isolated hepatocytes. Bay-region dihydrodiol-epoxide adducts were formed with extracellular calf thymus DNA and hepatic DNA. However, most of the binding of DMBA with extracellular and intracellular DNA was due to unidentified DMBA-DNA adducts that eluted, upon reversed-phase chromatography, after the bay-region dihydrodiol-epoxide DMBA adducts were formed. The present studies show that feeding animals diets that are limiting in protein results in a decrease in DMBA detoxification and an increase in excretion of reactive DMBA metabolites from the liver. These results may explain the previously observed influence of dietary protein on the initiation of DMBA-induced mammary carcinogenesis in the rat.