comparison of the antiinflammatory properties of formoterol salbutamol and salmeterol in guineapig skin and lung 1 we have compared some antiinflammatory properties of formoterol salbutamol and salmeterol in guineapig skin and lung 2 intradermal formoterol 1 x 1010 to 1 x 108 molsite salbutamol 1 x 108 and 1 x 107 molsite and salmeterol 1 x 108 and 1 x 107 molsite inhibited bradykinininduced plasma protein extravasation ppe in guineapig skin a maximally effective dose of formoterol 1 x 109 molsite and salbutamol 1 x 108 molsite inhibited ppe in guineapig skin for 24 h and 12 h respectively whereas salmeterol 1 x 108 molsite was effective for 6 h 3 inhaled formoterol nebuliser concentration 01 to 100 micrograms ml1 inhibited histamineinduced plasma protein extravasation ppe in guineapig lung with significant inhibition being observed at 10 and 100 micrograms ml1 formoterol 100 micrograms ml1 inhibited ppe in guineapig lung for 24 h a duration of action intermediate between that previously obtained for salbutamol 1 h and salmeterol 6 h 4 formoterol like salbutamol had no effect on neutrophil accumulation or granulocytedependent ppe zymosaninduced in guineapig skin formoterol inhibited neutrophil accumulation lipopolysaccharideinduced in guineapig lung but at doses greater than those required to inhibit granulocyteindependent ppe histamineinduced in contrast salmeterol inhibited neutrophil accumulation and granulocytedependent ppe in guineapig skin and inhibited neutrophil accumulation in guineapig lung at doses which inhibit granulocyteindependent ppe 5 inhaled formoterol nebuliser concentration 100 microg ml1 and salmeterol 100 microg ml1 both inhibited pafinduced eosinophil accumulation in guineapig lung however unlike salmeterol this effect of formoterol was observed only at suprabronchodilator doses6 we conclude that to inhibit neutrophil accumulation at doses which inhibit granulocyteindependent ppe agonists acting at betaadrenoceptors on vascular endothelium require a duration of action greater than that of salbutamol and formoterol however we speculate that the mechanism of inhibition of eosinophil accumulation in guineapig lung by beta2adrenoceptor agonists may involve an action on beta2adrenoceptors on a cell type other than the endothelial cell