The antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytoxicity (ADCC) by human monocytes and neutrophils was investigated by measuring the release of 51chromate from prelabeled erythrocytes coated with immunoglobulin G. ADCC was found to be positively correlated to phagocytosis of 51Cr-labeled erythrocytes and to the postphagocytic events of the effector cells, activation of the hexose monophosphate shunt, and degranulation. Exclusion of oxygen from the incubation media halved the ADCC by both cell types without affectijg phagocytosis or degranulation. Likewise, ADCC by cells from patients suffering from chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) was only half the intensity of ADCC by cells from normals. Inhibitors of mitochondrial respiration were without depressing effect of ADCC. Azide, which in addition to its blocking action on oxydative phosphorylation also inhibits catalase and myeloperoxidase, resulted in a approximately equal to 40% stimulation of ADCC by cells from normals but was without effect of ADCC by cells from CGD patients. The hydroxyl radical scavenger, mannitol, significantly depressed ADCC by cells from normals (P < 0.01) but was without effect on cells from CGD patients. Azide and mannitol also were without effect on ADCC by normal cells when oxygen was excluded. In a xanthine-xanthine oxidase system, erythrocytes were effectively lysed. This lysis was inhibited by catalase, superoxide dismutase, and mannitol. When comparable concentrations of glucose oxidase were used no lysis was observed. H2O2 either alone or in combination with azide did not lyse erythrocytes. It is suggested that ADCC by both monocytes and neutrophils is partly dependent on the generation of hydroxyl radicals by the effector cells.