Phenobarbitone pretreatment potentiated hepatocyte lesions in male rats 24 hr after treatment with 1-fluoropentane (3.5 mg/kg body weight) and 1-fluorohexane (0.17 mg/kg body weight). Serum levels of the enzymes ornithine carbamyltransferase, glutamic-pyruvic transaminase and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase were significantly elevated by the test compounds with the peak effect occurring 24-72 hr after a single ip administration. Significant elevation of hepatocyte triglyceride content and mitochondrial calcium and citrate levels were demonstrated 24 and 48 hr after a single ip injection of 1-fluoropentane or 1-fluorohexane, respectively.