The hepatotoxicity of a new erythromycin derivative, erythromycin acistrate (EA, 2'-acetyl erythromycin stearate), was compared with that of erythromycin stearate (ES), erythromycin estolate (EE) and erythromycin-11,12 cyclic carbonate (EC) in 4-5-day, 28-day and 6-month oral toxicity studies in rats and dogs. In the 4-day rat study, EC caused fatty metamorphosis in the liver. ES caused similar, but milder changes at a dose nearly five times higher. The 5-day dog study revealed markedly increased serum alanine aminotransferase (S-ALAT), serum aspartate aminotransferase (S-ASAT), serum alkaline phosphatase (S-APHOS) and serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (S-gamma-GT) values in the EC- and EE-groups, and slightly elevated S-ALAT values also in the EA- and ES-groups. Microscopy revealed cholangitis, pericholangitis and phlebitis in the portal areas in the EC-group at all doses. Epithelial hyperplasia was observed also in the bile ducts. EE caused similar but milder changes. The changes in the EA-group were small, but mildly atypical bile duct epithelium was seen in female dogs receiving 2 x 200 mg/kg of EA. The ES-group was practically without changes and very much like the EA-group. Thus the dog proved to be a more sensitive model for assessing the hepatotoxicity of erythromycin derivatives. In the 28-day studies, only EA and ES were investigated. In the rat study, slightly elevated serum enzyme levels within the normal range were measured in the high-dose regimens of both drugs. In the dog study, 300 mg/kg of EA caused slightly elevated S-ALAT in males, but the values returned to normal after a 2-week off-dose period. Only EA was studied in the 6-month study. In male rats, 400 mg/kg of EA caused slightly elevated enzyme levels and neutral fat droplets in centrilobular hepatocytes. In male dogs given 150 mg/kg of EA, S-ALAT, S-APHOS, and S-gamma-GT values were elevated after four weeks of treatment but returned to normal thereafter. No severe changes were seen in the liver histopathology. In conclusion, EC and EE were clearly hepatotoxic in dogs, and EC also in rats. EA, and to a somewhat lesser extent ES, showed signs of mild hepatotoxicity only at high doses. This evidently reversible effect was considered a common characteristic of erythromycins.