The influence of CdCl 2 , used at 1, 10 and 100 mM concentration, and ZnCl 2 at 1, 10 and 100 mM concentration on the production of interferon (IFN) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in bovine aorta endothelial cells (BAECs) was examined. BAECs were treated with cadmium ions or zinc ions alone or together with cytokine inducers: Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Cadmium ions at 1 and 10 mM concentration, used alone induced a low, but detectable TNF activity in BAECs, and zinc ions at 1, 10 and 100 mM concentration induced both IFN and TNF activity. In contrast to that, cadmium added to BAECs together with the virus or LPS as cytokine inducers significantly inhibited the production of IFN and TNF. Cadmium effect depended on the concentration used, and 1 and 10 mM CdCl 2 partially, but 100 mM cadmium completely inhibited the production of both cytokines. Zinc ions at 1 and 10 mM concentration, which only slightly inhibited the production of both cytokines, did not reconstitute cadmium-depressed IFN and TNF production. These data indicate that cadmium-induced depression of cytokine production in bovine endothelial cells, in response to viral and bacterial stimuli, cannot be reversed by zinc supplementation.