4-Methylsulphonyl-2,2',5,5'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (4-MeSO2-TCB) is a major polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) metabolite present in lung tissue of PCB-exposed human subjects. After treatment of mice with 4-MeSO2-TCB (100 mg/kg), the pulmonary N-demethylation of aminopyrine in vitro was significantly decreased, while hepatic N-demethylation was concomitantly increased, as compared to tissue from control mice. Treatment of mice with 4-MeSO2-TCB also decreased the in vivo pulmonary covalent binding of o,p'-DDD, while the in vivo hepatic covalent binding was increased. The results indicate that 4-MeSO2-TCB inhibits or represses a cytochrome P-450-dependent enzyme activity in the mouse lung, while in contrast this activity is induced in the mouse liver.