1. Rat and human polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs) when exposed to calcium ionophore A23187 10 microM release products which cause aggregation of rat PMNs and chemokinesis of human PMNs. 2. Aggregating and chemokinetic activities are rapidly generated; maximal release occurs after 4 min, and can be detected in dilutions of the supernatant of up to 1:1000. 3. Generation of aggregating and chemokinetic activities is inhibited by nordihydroguaiaretic acid 10(-4) to 10(0-7) M, 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid 10(-4) and 10(-5) M, BW 755C 10(-4) M and benoxaprofen 10(-4) M, all compounds known to inhibit lipoxygenase pathways of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism. 4. Conventional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, such as aspirin and indomethacin, inhibited little or not at all the generation of these activities. 5. We conclude that the aggregating and chemokinetic activities induced by A23187 represent generation of biologically active products of lipoxygenase pathways of AA metabolism.