Antiallergic effects of 6-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-N-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-2-pyrazinecarboxamide (HSR-6071), a newly synthesized agent, were investigated. The 48-hr homologous passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) in rats was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by i.v. and p.o. administration of the agent (ED50 = 0.0096 mg/kg and 0.18 mg/kg, respectively). The IgE-mediated histamine release from rat peritoneal exudate cells was inhibited by HSR-6071, with an IC50 of 4.6 x 10(-10) M. Regarding the non-immunological histamine release, HSR-6071 inhibited compound 48/80-induced, but not A23187-induced and spontaneous histamine release. On the other hand, an increase in vascular permeability induced by histamine, serotonin and bradykinin was unaffected by HSR-6071 in doses sufficient to inhibit PCA. In addition, the contractile responses of isolated guinea pig ileum to histamine, acetylcholine and serotonin were also unaffected by the agent even in a high concentration of 10(-4) M. These results indicate that HSR-6071 possesses a potent antiallergic activity and that the inhibition of PCA by HSR-6071 may be due to the suppression of chemical mediators release from mast cells.