Previous studies from our laboratory have shown that nitric oxide (NO) can reduce the release of free radicals from activated leukocytes. The aim of this study was to assess the role of endothelium-derived nitric oxide and leukocyte-derived free radicals in the contractile response to non-preactivated leukocytes. Vessel tension studies were performed in rabbit endothelium-intact aortic vessel rings precontracted with 5-hydroxytryptamine (1 microM). Addition of leukocytes isolated from rabbit blood were added to the rings in increasing concentrations (10(3)-10(6) cell ml(-1)) under control conditions and in the presence of L-nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME 1 mM), D-NAME (1 mM), or superoxide dismutase (100 U ml(-1)). The responses to superoxide radical (generated by xanthine plus xanthine oxidase, X/XO), hydrogen peroxide, hypochlorite and peroxynitrite were also assessed. The nature of the free radicals released from non-activated isolated leukocytes, zymosan-stimulated leukocytes (in whole blood) and isolated vessel rings was assessed using luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence. Cumulative addition of leukocyte suspensions to aortic rings caused a concentration-dependent contractile response which was abolished by preincubation of the vessel ring with L-NAME. D-NAME and superoxide dismutase were without effect. All the free radicals tested produced a relaxation of the precontracted aortic ring. The response to X/XO was not affected by superoxide dismutase, but abolished by catalase. The responses to hydrogen peroxide and hypochlorite were both found to be dependent upon the presence of endothelium and NO. The response to peroxynitrite was endothelium-independent and was blocked by methylene blue. While the main free radical released from unstimulated leukocytes and vessel rings was superoxide, the main radical released from activated leukocytes was found to be hypochlorite. These results suggest that the vascular contraction seen in response to non-preactivated leukocytes is due to inhibition, by NO, of the release of free radicals from the leukocytes when activated by contact with the vascular endothelium, thus allowing co-released vasoconstrictor substances to exert their effect.