The effects of tricyclic drugs (clomipramine, imipramine, chlorpromazine and promethazine) on isolated liver mitochondria of rats were examined. All the drugs tested accelerated state 4 respiration. Their stimulative potency at concentrations below 100 microM was in the order of chlorpromazine greater than clomipramine greater than imipramine, promethazine. On state 3 respiration, the chlorine containing drugs had an inhibitive effect at high concentrations, while the other drugs seemed to have a slightly stimulative effect. These drugs stimulated latent ATPase activity of mitochondria. Clomipramine and chlorpromazine inhibited 2, 4-dinitrophenol-stimulated ATPase activity in a dose-dependent fashion. Imipramine also inhibited 2, 4-dinitrophenol-stimulated ATPase activity at high concentrations. Promethazine, however, had almost no effect. All the drugs induced potassium release from mitochondrial vesicles, and their potency was in the order of clomipramine greater than chlorpromazine greater than imipramine greater than promethazine. These results suggest that clomipramine, imipramine, chlorpromazine and promethazine cause impediments in both mitochondrial respiration and ion compartmentation, and that the chlorine containing drugs are more toxic than others on the functions of the mitochondrial membrane.