The Papuan taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus canni) is the third most venomous terrestrial snake in the world, however, little is know about the pharmacology of the venom. In the chick biventer cervicis muscle, venom (10 microg/ml) abolished nerve-mediated twitches (time to 90% inhibition (t90) 44+/-5 min, n = 9). This inhibition was unaffected by prior incubation of the venom with the phospholipase A inhibitor 4-bromophenacyl bromide (4-BPB; 0.72 mM) (t90 48+/-7 min, n = 8). The mouse phrenic nerve diaphragm preparation displayed greater sensitivity to venom (10 microg/ml) (t90 25+/-1 min, n = 6). In the chick biventer muscle, venom (10 microg/ml) significantly inhibited responses to acetylcholine (1 mM) and carbachol (20 microM), but not KCI (40 mM), indicating activity at post-synaptic nicotinic receptors. Venom (10 microg/ ml) did not affect direct muscle stimulation. Venom (3-30 microg/ml) produced dose-dependant contractions of the guinea-pig ileum. Contractile responses were significantly inhibited by indomethacin (1 microM) or prior incubation of the venom with 4-BPB (0.72 mM) indicating involvement of a PLA component. In rat phenylephrine (0.3 microM) precontracted aortae, venom (3-100 microg/ml) produced endothelium-independent relaxation which was unaffected by prior incubation of venom (30 microg/ml) with 4-BPB (0.72 mM). In anaesthetised rats, 10 microg/kg (i.v.) venom produced rapid respiratory and cardiovascular collapse while 5 microg/kg (i.v.) venom produced only a small transient decrease in mean arterial blood pressure. Prior administration of 5 microg/kg (i.v.) venom enabled subsequent administration of 10 and 100 microg/kg (i.v.) venom without respiratory or cardiovascular collapse. Further work is required to identify specific toxins with the above pharmacological activity.