The androgen receptor content of normal human liver, hepatocellular carcinoma, and surrounding liver tissue was determined in patients with chronic liver disease. Androgen receptor was detected in all six normal livers obtained from 4 men and 2 women. The androgen receptor content in these 6 individuals ranged from 5.0 to 10.2 fmol/mg protein (Kd 10.6-31.8 X 10(-10) M). The livers from 2 patients with chronic active hepatitis and from 10 cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma had detectable amounts of androgen receptor ranging from 2.0 to 14.8 fmol/mg protein (Kd 4.0-30.9 X 10(-10) M). Androgen receptor was found in the cytosol of 14 of 19 men with hepatocellular carcinoma. The titer ranged from 3.7 to 45.4 fmol/mg protein (Kd 3.2-21.4 X 10(-10) M). Hepatocellular carcinoma had a significantly higher concentration of androgen receptor than did the surrounding cirrhotic liver tissue. In 2 men and 1 woman, androgen receptor was detected in the cirrhotic liver but not in the tumor. In the remaining 3 men, both tumor and cirrhotic liver were negative for androgen receptor.