<正> The changes of the cytoplasmic free calcium level in the neutrophils after smoke in-halation injury were observed in rabbits and then the effects of tetrandrine

a calcium antago-nist

on the changes of free calcium level were studied.It was found that the number of neu-trophils increased significantly preceded by a transient decrease in the blood and also increasedin the bronehoalveolar lavage fluid after smoke inhalation.and the level of cytoplasmic free calci-um in the blood neutrophil increased likewise.Administration of tetrandrine resulted in a reduc-tion of the neutrophils number in the lungs and the free calcium level in the blood neutrophils toalleviate the pulmonary injury due to smoke inhalation.It is believed that there is a close rela-tionship between the activation of neutrophils and the pathophysiological changes of the lungs

and tetrandrine can exert its therapeutic effects on the injury by decreasing the free calcium levelin the neutrophils to modulate their functions.