The generation of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) and by rabbit alveolar macrophages (AM) was investigated and compared with that produced under conditions of coculture. Incubation of PMN with the calcium ionophore A23187 resulted in rapid generation of leukotriene (LT) B4 and its omega-oxidation products, paralleled by substantial secretion of 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE) and intact LTA4. Rapid LTA4 decay to nonenzymatic hydrolysis products in the extracellular space ensued. Exogenous AA, offered simultaneously with the ionophore, markedly increased 5-lipoxygenase product formation. Incubation of AM with A23187 evoked protracted generation of LTB4 in the absence of omega-oxidation, with concomitant liberation of 5-HETE, 15-HETE, free AA, and minor amounts of AA cyclooxygenase products. Exogenously offered LTA4 was avidly taken up and converted into LTB4 by these cells. Costimulation of AM and PMN with the ionophore resulted in an approximately 2.5-fold increase in the generation of LTB4 and its metabolites (compared with the summed amounts of the isolated cell experiments), whereas 5-HETE and nonenzymatic LTA4, hydrolysis product formation were markedly reduced. This change in metabolite profile was dependent on the AM-to-PMN ratio. Acetylsalicylic acid increased 5-lipoxygenase product formation in the coculture studies but not in the isolated cell experiments. AA prelabeling of either PMN or AM resulted in radioactivity detection in all AA lipoxygenase products except for 15-HETE.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)