Antigen challenge of actively sensitized guinea pigs results in the release of histamine eicosanoids (products of the cyclooxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism) and slow reducing substance of anaphylaxis (SRS-A). By antagonizing the effects of histamine, serotonin, and acetylcholine, inhibiting the cyclooxygenase pathway and supplying arachidonic acid as substrate, the contribution of SRS-A to anaphylactic bronchospasm can be enhanced, thus allowing suitable quantitation of antagonists. This SRS-A mediated bronchospasm can be inhibited in a dose dependent fashion by FPL55712, a selective antagonist of SRS-A. This system represents an in vivo method capable of detecting compounds which inhibit SRS-A synthesis/release of SRS-A action at the effector organ.