Although certain prostaglandins have been found to be inhibitory to nerve-evoked salivary flow, little is known of the effects the leukotrienes on salivary secretion. It was the purpose of this investigation to examine the effects of leukotrienes C4 (LTC4) and D4 (LTD4) on salivary secretion in the rat, using methacholine or substance P to induce basal secretion, and to test whether or not the observed effects of these eicosanoids were receptor-mediated by using the leukotriene receptor blocker FPL-55712. Methacholine (3 x 10(-4) M), or substance P (1 x 10(-6) M) was infused intra-arterially to stimulate secretion and saliva was collected separately from the parotid gland and the submandibular gland of anesthetized rats. LTC4 and LTD4 (each at 1 x 10(-9) to 1 x 10(-6) M) were found to reduce methacholine- and substance P-induced salivary flow in a dose-related manner. Salivary protein concentration and amylase activity were not significantly altered by the leukotrienes; however, arginine-esterase activity, stimulated by substance P, was increased by both leukotrienes. FPL-55712 (1 x 10(-8) M) was shown to reduce the inhibitory effects of LTC4 and LTD4, suggesting the involvement of leukotriene receptors for these agents in their action.