The role of products of cyclooxygenase was investigated in the responses of isolated airways to H2O2. Strips of guinea pig trachea, in some of which the epithelium had been removed mechanically, were suspended in organ chambers, and isometric tension was recorded. Under basal conditions, H2O2 induced indomethacin-sensitive contractions, which were larger in preparations without than in those with epithelium; the difference was abolished by inhibitors of thromboxane synthase or thromboxane A2 receptors. During contractions to acetylcholine, low concentrations of H2O2 induced relaxation in preparations with but had no significant effect in those without epithelium. At higher concentrations of H2O2, the epithelium-dependent relaxation was attenuated but an epithelium-independent relaxation appeared. The epithelium-dependent but not the epithelium-independent responses to H2O2 were blocked by indomethacin. Under basal conditions, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2; < or = 10(-7) M), U-46619, prostaglandin PGF2 alpha (PGF2 alpha), prostaglandin PGD2 (PGD2), and prostacyclin (PGI2) caused contractions. During contractions to acetylcholine, PGE2 induced larger relaxations in preparations with than in those without epithelium. Radioimmunoassay revealed that lower concentrations of H2O2 predominantly increased the release of PGE2 and 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha); in preparations without epithelium, the release of thromboxane B2 was augmented also. At higher concentrations of H2O2, the release of PGE2, PGF2 alpha, PGD2, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, and thromboxane B2 increased in preparations with and without epithelium. These findings demonstrate that the responses of the guinea pig trachea to H2O2 are mediated mainly by products of cyclooxygenase and that the effects of H2O2 are modulated by the epithelium.