The inhibitory effect of ammonium choride pretreatment of human peripheral blood lymphocytes on natural killer (NK) activity to myeloid leukemic cell line K-562 was studied. The more dilute the ammonium chloride solution, the less was the inhibitory effect on NK activity. This inhibitory effect was weaker when effector cells were treated at 4°C than at 37°C. Inhibited NK activity recovered partially after incubation for 24 hours.