We studied the association between bronchoconstriction and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cell and mediator profiles in unsensitized guinea pigs (GP) after hyperpnea to determine whether eicosanoids or histamine are released during hyperpnea-induced bronchoconstriction (HIB). Twelve animals were challenged with warm, moist (WM) air (T = 35 degrees C, relative humidity = 91 to 94%), 14 with room dry (RD) air (T = 25 degrees C, relative humidity less than 2.1%), and 18 with cold, dry (CD) air (T = 7 degrees C, relative humidity less than 2.1%). Lung resistance (RL) and elastance (EL) were recorded at baseline and at 2-min intervals after hyperventilation. Challenges were terminated either when a greater than or equal to 100% increase in RL was observed postchallenge or after completion of a 135 breaths/min challenge if RL did not increase. BAL was performed, and samples were analyzed for total cells, white cell and epithelial cell differentials, total protein concentration, and mediator content.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)