The responses of the guinea-pig ileum myenteric plexus-longitudinal muscle to the food, drug and cosmetic dye erythrosin B (FD & C Red No. 3) were examined in acetylcholine- and electrically-stimulated preparations. Erythrosin B (10(-6)-10(-4)) reduced the amplitude of the mechanical responses produced by both stimuli. The effects were not simply concentration- and time-dependent. Responses to field stimulation were more sensitive to inhibition by erythrosin B, inhibition increasing with both concentration of dye and time of exposure. Responses to acetylcholine were generally less sensitive to erythrosin B and inhibition at 90 min exposure was more evident at lower concentrations of the dye. Many preparations contracted briefly upon exposure to low concentrations of the dye. Erythrosin B did not significantly affect the specific binding of [3H]QNB to muscarinic receptors. Erythrosin B reduced resting K+ levels in the longitudinal muscle but Na+ concentrations were essentially unaffected. Muscarinic agonist-stimulated uptake of Na+ and release of K+ were inhibited by erythrosin B (10(-6)-10(-4)M); this effect was enhanced with increased time of exposure to the dye. The effects of erythrosin B on cellular ion concentrations were more evident at low than at high concentrations of the dye. Erythrosin B reduced the efflux of [3H]acetylcholine induced by field stimulation from the myenteric plexus longitudinal muscle preparation.