The effects of magnesium carbonate (MgCarb) on carcinogenesis and natural killer (NK) cell modulation by nickel subsulfide (Ni3S2) were studied. Male Fischer F344/NCr rats, 50-90 g body wt, 20 rats per group, received single i.m. injections into both thigh muscles of 2.5 mg Ni3S2 alone or combined with different proportions of MgCarb; the Mg/Ni molar ratio ranged from 0.25 to 4.0. Control rats received i.m. injections of normal saline or magnesium acetate (MgAcet), or s.c. MgCarb at a site distant from Ni3S2. The animals were observed over 79 weeks for the development of tumors. The NK cell activity was determined over the first 3 weeks of the experiment in separate groups of rats treated as above, with the use of the 51Cr/YAC-1 release assay for blood and spleen cells and the peroxidase localization of Ox-8-immunoreactive lymphocytes at the injection site. I.m. administration of MgCarb mixed with Ni3S2 up to the Mg/Ni molar ratio of 1.0 inhibited the carcinogenicity of Ni3S2 in a dose-related manner; final incidence of sarcomas decreased from 100 to 55% and the appearance of first tumors was delayed from 25 to 39 weeks. Higher doses of MgCarb did not exert further effect. Distant s.c. injection of MgCarb or local i.m. application of MgAcet did not change the carcinogenic potency of i.m. Ni3S2. MgCarb or saline alone did not produce any tumors. I.m. Ni3S2 had no significant influence on the activity of NK cells in blood and spleen, while i.m. MgCarb alone did not affect the NK activity in blood but doubled it transiently in the spleen 24 h after injection. In the injected muscle, Ox-8-positive cells became abundant around MgCarb but could not be found close to Ni3S2. This inhibitory effect of Ni3S2 was partially reversed by MgCarb. Also, numerous multinucleated giant cells infiltrated the sites of injection of MgCarb alone and MgCarb + Ni3S2 but not Ni3S2 alone. The results indicate a dose-dependent and strictly local character of the inhibition by MgCarb of Ni3S2 carcinogenesis, as well as a possible involvement of NK and phagocytic cells in this inhibition.