We investigated whether S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) influences the inhibitory effect of ethanol on bile secretion and ethanol hepatotoxicity in the isolated perfused rat liver. SAMe (25 mg/kg intramuscularly three times a day) was administered for three days consecutively. Liver was then isolated and perfused with taurocholate to stabilize bile secretion and exposed to 1% ethanol for 70 min. The effect of ethanol on bile flow, bile salt biliary secretion, oxygen liver consumption, AST and LDH release in the perfusate, and hepatic concentration of glutathione, malondialdehyde, and diene conjugates was compared between SAMe-treated livers (N = 11) and paired controls (N = 11). Control experiments without ethanol were also performed (N = 6). Exposure to 1% ethanol induced a significantly (P < 0.03) higher inhibition of bile flow (-35% vs 17%) and bile salt secretion (-28% vs 16%) in untreated compared with SAMe-treated livers. During 1% ethanol exposure, the release of LDH and AST in the perfusate was significantly lower (P < 0.02) in SAMe-treated livers. Oxygen liver consumption was markedly inhibited by 1% ethanol administration (P < 0.02 vs controls without ethanol), an effect almost totally prevented by SAMe treatment (P < 0.02 vs ethanol controls). The hepatic concentration of total glutathione was significantly (P < 0.02) decreased by 1% ethanol exposure, but this effect was less pronounced in SAMe-treated than in untreated controls (P < 0.02). The hepatic levels of malondialdehyde and diene conjugates were not significantly changed by ethanol exposure in either SAMe-treated or control livers in comparison to ethanol-free controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)