Lipolytic activity at pH 8.5-9.5 was lowered by approx. 80% in homogenates from livers perfused with collagenase or heparin. No heparin-releasable lipase activity was detected in hepatocytes isolated by collagenase treatment. It is concluded that crude collagenase completely inactivates the plasma-membrane-bound heparin-releasable lipase.