Cells from liver, jejunum, ileum, colon and kidney of the guinea pig were freshly prepared by standard isolation procedures. Cells were incubated in the presence of several concentrations of 1(14C)-naphthol, and formation of 1-naphthol glucuronide and 1-naphthol sulphate was assessed at various times by thin layer chromatography. Cells from all five tissues conjugated 1-naphthol. The velocity of conjugation was fastest in jejunals cells (2.9 nmole/mg prot X min) followed by cells from liver, ileum, colon and kidney (0.2 nmole/mg prot X min). The apparent Km-values for glucuronidation ranged from 17 microM to 32 microM, and those for sulphation from 15 microM to 35 microM. Each tissue had a specific conjugation pattern. The two extremes were kidney cells, which had a glucuronidation/sulphation ratio in excess of 10, and colon cells which had a ratio of 0.38. The data suggest that these tissues possess different levels of 1-naphthol-conjugating enzymes, which resemble with regard to their apparent substrate affinities.