We have recently reported that human neutrophils can be permeabilized with the cholesterol complexing agent saponin and that these cells can be induced to secrete the granule enzyme lysozyme in response to micromolar levels of free calcium. We now report that digitonin can be used in place of saponin and that it has several advantages. Permeabilization of human neutrophils was accomplished with 10 micrograms/ml digitonin in a high potassium medium. Normally impermeant solutes such as [14C]sucrose and inulin [14C]carboxylic acid gained access to one half of the intracellular water space marked with [3H]H2O. Between 30 and 100% of the cytoplasmic enzyme, lactate dehydrogenase, leaked from the intracellular space. The permeabilization process and calcium-triggered granule secretion were critically dependent upon temperature, time and digitonin concentration. Permeabilized neutrophils secreted beta-glucuronidase, lysozyme and vitamin B-12 binding-protein, constituents of both azurophil and specific granules, when exposed to micromolar levels of free calcium. Release of specific granule constituents appeared to be more sensitive to free calcium than release from azurophil granules. Although the amount of permeabilization varied considerably with each batch of cells, release of these granule markers was a consistent finding. Release of granule markers was accompanied by resealing of the cells to high-molecular-weight (Mr greater than 5000) solutes. Electron microscopic evidence also suggested that granule and plasma membranes were intact following digitonin treatment and that fusion of these membranes occurred in response to calcium. These results suggest that elevation of intracellular free-calcium levels is a sufficient condition for lysosomal enzyme release.