Synthetic bovine parathyroid hormone containing the 1-34 NH2 terminal amino acids [bPTH-(1-34)] is capable of inhibiting stimulated uterine contraction. The purpose of the present investigation is to determine whether the inhibitory action of bPTH-(1-34) is a direct action of the hormone fragment. The effect of different synthetic preparations of bPTH-(1-34), salmon calcitonin, corticotropin-inhibiting peptide and bovine serum albumin on oxytocin-stimulated uterine contraction was determined. In addition, the effects of atropine, propranolol, phentolamine, pyrilamine, cimetidine and the prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor indomethacin on the inhibitory action of bPTH-(1-34) on uterine contraction was determined. Both synthetic preparations of bPTH-(1-34) inhibited oxytocin-initiated contractions similarly. Salmon calcitonin, corticotropin-inhibiting peptide, and bovine serum albumin did not alter oxytocin-stimulated uterine contractions. The salmon calcitonin also did not alter the ability of bPTH-(1-34) to exert its inhibitory effect on uterine contraction. Cholinergic, alpha and beta adrenergic, histaminergic (H1 and H2) and prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors did not alter the action of bPTH-(1-34). These results suggest that the action of bPTH-(1-34) is 1) not due to the presence of a contaminant in the synthetic hormone preparation and 2) that the effect could be due to a direct action effect of the hormone fragment on uterine tissue.