Guanine nucleotides have, besides an activating effect on exocytosis and respiratory burst in permeabilized neutrophils, a modulating effect on some functions in intact neutrophils. We investigated the effect of guanine nucleotides on fMet-Leu-Phe-induced migration of rabbit neutrophils using the Boyden chamber technique. GTP gave a moderate inhibition of fMet-Leu-Phe-induced neutrophil migration. The GTP analogue GTP[S] had a stronger inhibitory effect than GTP. Other nucleotides, such as GDP, GMP, and guanosine were less effective inhibitors than GTP and GTP[S]. Maximal inhibition was achieved at nucleotide concentration of about 40 microM; higher concentration gave only little additional inhibition. The inhibitory effect persisted when the nucleotide was removed after pretreatment of the neutrophil with that nucleotide. Guanine nucleotide induced inhibition was not due to an interference with the fMet-Leu-Phe receptor as casein-induced migration was equally inhibited. We recently found that ATP inhibited neutrophil chemotaxis. The results obtained with guanine nucleotides resembles the inhibitory effects of ATP and its analogues. It is conceivable that guanine nucleotide-induced inhibition of neutrophil migration is mediated by an interaction of these nucleotides with purinergic receptors.