ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of Musk glucoprotein on chemotaxis of Polymorphonuclear leukocytes(PMN).</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The chemotaxis of PMN in abdominal cavity in rat induced by carboxymethyl cellulose(CMC) was used as an in vivo animal model and in in vitro it was evaluated by Boyden chamber. The concentration of cytosolic free Ca2+ was quantitated with the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator Fura-2.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The water extract of Musk at dose of 5, 20, 80 mg.kg-1 (s.c.) significantly inhibited the chemotaxis of PMN in rat; Musk-1 at concentration of 1-100 micrograms.mL-1 can significantly inhibit the chemotaxis of rabbit PMN in vitro; Musk-1 at concentration of 1-100 micrograms.mL-1 can significantly inhibit the increase of cytosolic Ca2+ concentration in PMN of rat.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Part of mechanisms underlying antiinflammatory action of Musk is to inhibit the chemotaxis of PMN.</p>