Recruitment of leukocytes from blood to tissue in inflammation requires the function of specific cell surface adhesion molecules. The objective of this study was to identify adhesion molecules that are involved in polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) locomotion in extravascular tissue in vivo. Extravasation and interstitial tissue migration of PMNs was induced in the rat mesentery by chemotactic stimulation with platelet-activating factor (PAF; 10(-7) M). Intravital time-lapse videomicroscopy was used to analyze migration velocity of the activated PMNs, and the modulatory influence on locomotion of locally administered antibodies or peptides recognizing various integrin molecules was examined. Immunofluorescence flow cytometry revealed increased expression of alpha(4), beta(1), and beta(2) integrins on extravasated PMNs compared with blood PMNs. Median migration velocity in response to PAF stimulation was 15.5 +/- 4.5 mu m/min (mean +/- SD). Marked reduction (67 +/- 7%) in motility was observed after treatment with mAb blocking beta(1) integrin function (VLA integrins), whereas there was little, although significant, reduction (22 +/- 13%) with beta(2) integrin mAb. Antibodies or integrin-binding peptides recognizing alpha(4)beta(1), alpha(5)beta(1) , or alpha(v)beta(3) were ineffective in modulating migration velocity.