The taurocholate (TC) maximal secretory rate (SRm) in the isolated perfused liver is increased in postpartum rats and ovariectomized rats treated with ovine prolactin (oPRL). The present studies were designed to characterize the mechanism(s) by which oPRL increases TC transport in the liver. oPRL (300 micrograms/day i.v. for 7 days) increased the SRm 1.6-fold from 185 to 364 nmol.min-1.mg protein-1 in the perfused rat liver and the maximal rate of transport for ATP-dependent transport 1.7-fold from 66 to 109 nmol.min-1.mg protein-1 in canalicular liver plasma membrane (cLPM) vesicles without changing the Michaelis constant (5-6 microM). The oPRL-mediated increases in biliary excretion in the perfused liver and ATP-dependent TC transport in cLPM vesicles were significantly inhibited by cycloheximide treatment (2 mg/kg). oPRL (300 micrograms/day iv for 7 days) increased expression of Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ecto-adenosinetriphosphatase mRNA sixfold and increased protein expression two- to threefold, but had no effect on the expression of P-glycoprotein (mdr1b and mdr2) mRNA. Thus the increase in ATP-dependent transport in cLPM vesicles due to oPRL treatment accounts for the increased TC SRm in the perfused liver. The oPRL-mediated increased TC transport may be associated with increased expression of proteins related to bile acid transport.