Ceramide glucoside (1-O-glucosido-2-N-acyl-sphingosine) was hydrolysed to ceramide (N-acyl-sphingosine) and glucose by beta-glucosidase from ox brain. The reaction was stimulated by the non-ionic detergent, Triton X-100, or by the anionic detergents, cholate or taurocholate. It was not reversible, had optimum pH5.0 (with acetate buffer) or 5.6 (with pyridine buffer), had K(m) 1.8x10(-4)m and was inhibited by delta-gluconolactone and sphingosine, but not by ceramide or palmitic acid.