The effect of selenium administered acutely or chronically on the hepatic microsomal drug-metabolizing system has been investigated in mice. After 72 h following acute administration of selenium (7.5 mg/kg, i.p.), there was a significant inhibition of the activities of aminopyrine (AM) N-demethylase and ethylmorphine (EM) N-demethylase, and cytochrome P-450 levels but no change in the activities of aniline (AN) hydroxylase, 7-ethoxycoumarin (EC) O-deethylase, reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-cytochrome c reductase and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)-ferricyanide reductase, and cytochrome b5 content. Chronic administration of selenium in the drinking water (1 or 2 ppm selenium) for 12 weeks, resulted in no alteration in any of the parameters measured. However, significant decreases in activities of AM N-demethylase and AN hydroxylase, and cytochrome P-450 levels were detected in animals given higher doses of selenium (4 or 8 ppm selenium). Following the in vitro additions of selenium to hepatic microsomes obtained from untreated mice, selenium inhibited the AM N-demethylase, AN hydroxylase and 7-EC O-deethylase in a concentration-dependent manner, but no alteration in NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and cytochrome P-450 levels was observed. These results indicate that selenium is a specific from inhibitor of hepatic monooxygenase.