The effect of the antimalarial drug primaquine, its stereoisomers and its proposed metabolites, on the metabolism of substrates for mixed function oxidase, has been studied in isolated perfused rat livers (IPRL) and/or in vitro microsomal suspension. Following acute administration to an IPRL preparation, racemic primaquine produced a dose related reduction in the hepatic clearance of antipyrine which at the highest dose of primaquine (5.0 mg) represented a decrease to 46% of control values. Antipyrine clearance was reduced to a comparable extent by the (+) and (-) isomers and the racemic mixture (each at a dose of 2.5 mg) with mean reductions of 45, 49 and 47%, respectively. These changes in clearance were reflected by significant increases in half-life relative to control. The apparent volume of distribution of antipyrine was unchanged in all experiments. Racemic primaquine and its (+) and (-) isomers were equipotent in inhibiting aminopyrine N-demethylase activity, producing reductions of 56, 59 and 55%, respectively, relative to control values. These three compounds also produced corresponding reductions of 73, 58 and 73% in ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity. The N-acetyl and 5-hydroxy derivative of primaquine produced inhibitory effects comparable to that seen for the parent drug. In contrast the carboxylic acid metabolite of primaquine, 6-desmethylprimaquine and 5-hydroxy-6-desmethyl primaquine did not influence aminopyrine N-demethylase activity. These results indicate that the propensity to inhibit drug metabolism by these primaquine related substances, is influenced by functional group substitution rather than the optical activity of the parent drug.