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The time to respiratory crisis in ovalbumin-sensitised guinea-pigs following exposure to aerosol administered antigen was dose dependently delayed by inhalation of nimesulide (0.1% to 1%), whereas indomethacin had no effect. At the same time, nimesulide significantly reduced blood histamine concentrations, in contrast to the slight increase observed with indomethacin. In human bronchial muscle preparations, nimesulide, but not indomethacin, antagonised H1-histamine-receptor activation by histamine and was without effect on acetylcholine-induced responses. Bronchoconstriction was also elicited in anaesthetised guinea-pigs by intravenous acetaldehyde (5% in saline, 1 ml/kg). This effect, which is paralleled by a rise in blood histamine concentrations, was significantly attenuated by inhaled nimesulide (0.1% to 1%), but not by indomethacin (1%). These data, which further support the antihistaminic and antiallergic activity of nimesulide, may have therapeutic relevance in patients who are affected by inflammation of the respiratory tract and who also have a history of allergic bronchoconstriction.