Na +, K + -adenosinetriphosphatase (Na +, K + -ATPase) activity was decreased in liver plasma membranes from rats in which cholestasis had been induced by i.v. administration of sodium taurolithocholate (5 mumoles/100 g b. wt). Incubation of liver plasma membranes with taurolithocholate (10--1300 muM) caused significant and dose dependent reductions of Na +, K + -ATPase activity at taurolithocholate concentrations above 100 muM. These findings lend support to the hypothesis that cholestasis induced by monohydroxy bile acids is at least partially the result of an inhibition of hepatic Na +, K + -ATPase activity.