The action of prostanoid receptor agonists and antagonists on smooth muscle and platelets.

1. Prostanoid receptors have been characterized in a range of guinea-pig and rat smooth muscle and platelets, according to the scheme of Coleman et al., (1985a), using agonists (prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), PGE1, PGE2, 16,16 dimethyl PGE2, PGF2 alpha, PGI2 and U46619) and putative selective antagonists (AH 6809 and SQ 29,548). 2. The ileum possesses EP1- and IP-receptors; the trachea, EP1-EP2- and TP-receptors; the oesophageal muscularis mucosa, EP1- and TP-receptors; the aorta and the portal vein TP-receptors. The rat colon possesses IP-, FP- and TP-receptors. 3. Guinea-pig platelets possess both IP and DP receptors mediating an inhibition of aggregation and TP receptors mediating proaggregation responses. No evidence was found for the presence of EP1-, EP2- or FP-receptors. 4. Misoprostol and fenprostalene were characterized using the above preparations. Misoprostol acts as a selective EP1-agonist, and has little or no DP, FP, IP and TP activity. In the trachea precontracted with carbachol no evidence of EP2-receptor stimulation was observed. Fenprostalene possesses FP and TP activity but no EP1, EP2, DP or IP activity.