Reciprocal chimeras were generated between BALB/c and DBA/2 mice by inoculating newborn recipients of either strain with bone-marrow (BM) cells of the other through the periorbital vein. DBA/2 mice inoculated with the BALB/c with proven chimerism will be referred to as C----D, the reciprocal as D----C. The BALB/c cells carried a Robertsonian 6;15 (Rb6;15) chromosome marker to facilitate identification. The chimeric mice contained between 5% and 70% of donor cells when examined at 4 to 5 weeks of age. Six of 10 C----D developed plasmacytomas (MPC) after 3 x 0.5 ml monthly pristane treatment (incidence 60%) and 8 of 25 (incidence 32%) after 2 to 3 x 0.5 ml pristane followed by Abelson virus (A-MuLV) infection. Seven of 15 D----C developed MPC after pristane treatment (incidence 47%) and 4 of 17 after pristane + A-MuLV (incidence 24%). All tumors that have arisen in both reciprocal chimeras originated from BALB/c cells independently of the degree of chimerism. All tumors contained an Ig/myc translocation. Among the C----D chimeras, 5 carried t(12;15) and I t(6;15) in the pristane-treated group, while 4 carried t(12;15), I t(6;15) and 3 t(15;16) in the pristane + A-MuLV. Among the D----C chimeras 6 carried t(12;15) and I t(6;15) in the pristane-treated group, while 3 t(12;15) and I t(6;15) in the pristane + A-MuLV. No tumors developed in 18 pristane- and 22 pristane + A-MuLV-treated DBA/2 mice nor in 15 pristane- and 17 pristane + A-MuLV-treated (BALB/c x DBA/2)F1 mice. The data indicate that BALB/c and DBA/2 cells differ in their propensity to transform into plasmacytoma in identical host environments after both pristane and pristane + A-MuLV treatment. They also show that the oil granuloma can support MPC development in either type of chimeric host.