The interaction of cytochalasin B-treated human neutrophils with the synthetic tripeptide, N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) results in a time- and concentration-dependent generation of superoxide anion (O2-) by an extracellular release of granule-associated beta-glucuronidase and lysozyme from these cells. Granule exocytosis was not accompanied by significant cytoplasmic lactate dehydrogenase extrusion. FMLP-stimulated O2- production occurs but is significantly curtailed in the absence of extracellular calcium. Nevertheless, incubation of neutrophils with EGTA in calcium-free medium had no effect on the O2- -generating system. Trifluoperazine (TFP), an inhibitor of calmodulin (a calcium-binding protein), caused a dose-related inhibition of FMLP-elicited degranulation and O2- production in the presence of absence of extracellular calcium. This effect TFP could be reversed by washing the cells before contact with FMLP. These data suggest that TFP represents a useful tool for defining the relevance of calmodulin and calcium to neutrophil function.