Extraction of whole lobes of normal rat liver with dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) under N2 gives extracts which contain 5-10 mumol/l.O2- (50-100 nmol.O2- per 10 ml extract per 4 g liver; 1.25-2.50 nmol.O2- per millilitre per gram liver). Evidence for .O2- in the extracts is given by: (1) electron spin resonance signals (ESR), (2) differential pulse polarography (DPP), (3) chemiluminescence (CL), and (4) nitroblue tetrazolium reduction (NBT). All tests yield results identical with those obtained with authentic .O2-. Extraction of .O2- is enhanced by tetrabutyl ammonium ion, and is maximal at 1-3 min. These results raise the possibility that substantial amounts of .O2- are normally sequestered in protective membranous sites in vivo.