Problem: Macrophages are apparently the only immune cells within placenta villi, yet functions of these cells remain obscure. It has been postulated that placental macrophages accomplish regulatory roles at the fetal-maternal interface by means of wide variety of secreted cytokines. We attempt to analyze the patterns of cytokine production in an isolated population of placental macrophages. Method of study: Macrophages were obtained from term placentas in the absence of spontaneous labor. The basal and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated levels of intracellular cytokines were detected by flow cytometry. The basal cytokine secretion was determined by BD™ Cytometry Bead Array (BD Biosciences, San Diego, CA, USA). Results: Intracellular IL-1α IL-1β, IL-6, and TNFα were detected in 31, 27, 4, and 3% CD68+ cells, respectively. Stimulation with LPS increased the proportions of cytokine-producing CD68+ cells to 48, 50, 28, and 49%, respectively. Under basal conditions, levels of released TNFα and IL-6, respectively, were 20- and 25-fold higher when compared with IL-1β while IL-10 was secreted in small but detectable amounts. When a secretory activity was estimated for cytokine-producing cells, the secretion rate for TNFα and IL-6 overwhelmingly surpassed that for IL-1β (TNFα:IL-6:IL-1β ratio was 192:145:1). Conclusion: These results suggest functional heterogeneity of the placental macrophage population and contribute to the elucidation of regulatory roles of these cells in gestation.