Peritoneal macrophages from C3HeB/FeJ mice became cytotoxic for 6C3HED lymphosarcoma cells, P815 mastocytoma cells, and L-929 fibroblasts when treated with the calcium ionophore, A23187, at concentrations ranging from 1.0 to 20 microM. The effect of A23187 on other activation processes was also tested. It was found that A23187 and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) acted synergistically, but no consistent synergy with macrophage-activating factor (MAF) was observed. Cytotoxic activity (M phi-CF) was found in cellfree supernatants from M phi activated by A23187 or LPS. Furthermore, these two activating agents synergize in the production of M phi-CF. The cytotoxic activity of the crude material was not blocked by catalase or protease inhibitors. Fractionation of supernatants by high pressure liquid chromatography has shown that there was a peak of cytotoxic activity with a m.w. of approximately 45,000. Interestingly, L-929 cells were 30-fold more sensitive to M phi-CF than a lymphotoxin-resistant subline of L-929.