We investigated the effects of mercuric chloride on phagocytic capacity, formation of toxic oxygen species and release of lysosomal enzymes of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL). Our results show that HgCl2 may alter these microbicidal functions of human PMNL without remarkable damage of cell viability. The phagocytic capacity was markedly depressed in a concentration-dependent manner. The formation of toxic oxygen species was also diminished by mercuric chloride when induced by phagocytosis. It was furthermore reduced when the PMNL were activated without phagocytosis by binding of IgG to Fc-receptors or by binding of phorbol myristate acetate to the membrane. In contrast, the release of the lysosomal enzyme lysozyme was enhanced in the presence of mercuric chloride, but not the release of beta-glucuronidase. These effects may lead to impaired defense against infections and possibly to inflammatory reactions in adjacent tissues induced by released lysosomal enzymes.