BAY W1807, the active metabolite of BAY R3401, inhibits muscle glycogen phosphorylase a and b. In gel-filtered liver extracts, racemic BAY U6751 (containing active BAY W1807) was tested for inhibition of phosphorylase in the glycogenolytic (in which only phosphorylase a is active). In liver extracts, BAY U6751 (0.9-36 μmol/L) inhibited glycogen synthesis by phosphorylase b (notwithstanding the inclusion of AMP), but not by phosphorylase a. Inhibition of phosphorylase-a-catalyzed glycogenolysis was partially relieved by AMP (500 μmol/L). BAY U6751 facilitated phosphorylase-a dephosphorylation. Isolated hepatocytes and perfused livers were tested for BAY R3401-induced changes in phosphorylase-a:b ratios and glycogenolytic output.