A range of naturally‐occurring prostaglandins sulprostone, 16,16‐dimethyl prostaglandin E₂ (DME₂) and the thromboxane A₂ (TXA₂)‐mimetic, 11α,9α‐epoxymethano prostaglandin H₂ (U‐46619) have been tested for contractile agonist activity on human isolated bronchial smooth muscle.

Prostaglandin D₂ (PGD₂), PGF_2α, 9α,11β‐PGF₂ (11β‐PGF₂) and U‐46619 all caused concentration‐related contractions. U46619 was at least 300 fold more potent than the other prostanoids with a mean EC₅₀ of 12 nm. Sulprostone caused contraction only at the highest concentration tested (30 μm). PGE₂ and PGI₂ caused relaxations at low concentrations, and only caused contractile responses at high concentrations (≥ 10 μm). In contrast, DME₂ caused small contractions at low concentrations but relaxation at the highest concentration tested (30 μm).

The rank order of contractile agonist potency was: U‐46619 > 11β‐PGF₂ > PGF_2α > PGD₂ > PGE₂ > PGI₂ > sulprostone > DME₂.

The TP‐receptor blocking drug, AH23848 (1 μm) antagonized the contractile effects of U‐46619, PGD₂, PGF_2α and 11β‐PGF₂, but had no effect against contractions to carbachol. In a single experiment, a pA₂ of 8.3 (slope = 1.2) was obtained for AH23848 against U‐46619.

In most preparations, administration of AH23848 (1 μm) to human bronchus resulted in small, transient contractile responses.

The results obtained with both the agonists and the antagonist, AH23848 are therefore consistent with prostanoid‐induced contractions of human bronchial smooth muscle being mediated by TP‐receptors.