Spirally cut guinea pig tracheal preparations were passively sensitized using a mouse monoclonal IgE antibody against dinitrophenol (DNP). Maximal contraction observed following challenge with DNP-bovine serum albumin (DNP-BSA, 5 micrograms/ml; n = 20) response was approximately 46% of the histamine response (0.52 +/- 0.09 g/mm2; n = 53). Indomethacin (1.7 microM) increased and PGE2 (1 microM) decreased the response to the antigen. FPL 55712 (10 microM), atropine (0.1 microM), L 651392 (5 microM) or tripelennamine (1 microM) always reduced the maximal DNP-BSA response, but not BN 52021 (100 microM). This model may be used for rapid detection of compounds with antiallergic properties on IgE-dependent lung pathological states.