The oxygen-dependent respiratory burst is a key neutrophil function required for the killing of bacteria. However, despite intensive investigation, the molecular events which initiate the respiratory burst remain unclear. Recent reports have suggested the agonist-induced hydrolysis of cellular phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) by phospholipase D may be an essential requirement for initiating or mediating the respiratory burst. We have investigated the effects of the chemotactic peptide N-formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine (fMLF), the phorbol ester 12-0-tetradecanoyl-phorbol 13-acetate (TPA) and the polyunsaturated fatty acids arachidonic [20 : 4 (n-6)] and docosahexaenoic [22 : 6 (n-3)] acids in light of this hypothesis. Ethanol-inhibited superoxide production in response to 20:4, 22:6 and fMLF, in a dose-dependent fashion, suggesting an involvement of phospholipase D. The phosphatidic-acid phosphohydrolase inhibitor DL-propranolol completely inhibited superoxide production induced by both 20:4 and 22:6, and partially inhibited the response to TPA. In contrast, superoxide production in response to fMLF was increased by propranolol. fMLF and TPA, but not the fatty acids, stimulated phospholipase D as indicated by the accumulation of phosphatidic acid and, in the presence of ethanol, phosphatidylethanol derived from PtdCho. Extracellular Ca2+ was found to be an essential requirement for fMLF-induced superoxide production. However, responses to the fatty acids were dramatically enhanced under Ca2',-free conditions. Responses to TPA were independent of the extracellular Ca2+ concentration. Both fatty acids and fMLF, but not TPA, mobilised Ca2+ from intracellular stores, a response insensitive to the effects of both ethanol and propranolol. These results show that, unlike fMLF and TPA, the fatty acids do not cause hydrolysis of PtdCho by phospholipase D. However, the data indirectly suggests that the fatty acids may initiate the phospholipase-D-catalysed hydrolysis of phospholipids other than PtdCho.The oxygen-dependent respiratory burst is a major biochemical response in neutrophils that is associated with their interaction with various types of soluble and particulate stimuli. This response is mediated by a membrane-bound flavoproteinlb-type cytochrome complex, the NADPH oxidase, which catalyses the reduction of molecular oxygen to superoxide (reviewed by Rossi, 1986; Bdbior, 1988;Segel, 1989). However, the sequence of events following ligand interaction with the cell surface which ultimately lead to oxyradical production are not well understood. Receptor binding has been shown to initiate the hydrolysis of inositol phosphates, resulting in the production of the intracellular messengers, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and diacylglycerol (reviewed by Cockcroft, 1989). Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate has been reported to mobilise Ca2+ from intracellular stores, whileCorrespondence to A.