Recent studies have shown that vasodilator prostaglandins are continually produced by the isolated rat lung. We postulated that these vasodilators may contribute to maintenance of normal low pulmonary arterial pressure. Pulmonary pressure and cardiac output were measured in conscious dogs prior to and 30 to 60 min following administration of meclofenamate (2 mg/kg iv, followed by infusion at 2 mg . kg-1 . h-1) or the structurally dissimilar inhibitor RO-20-5720 (1 mg/kg iv, followed by infusion at 1 mg . kg-1 . h-1). The animals were also made hypoxic with inhalation of 10% O2 before and after inhibition. Time-control experiments were conducted in which only the saline vehicle was administered. Meclofenamate or RO-20-5720 caused an increase in mean pulmonary arterial pressure and total pulmonary resistance. Cardiac output and systemic pressure were unaffected. The mild hypoxic pulmonary pressor response observed was not affected by meclofenamate. Animals breathing 30% O2 to offset Denver's altitude also demonstrated increased pulmonary pressure and resistance when given meclofenamate. It is concluded that endogenous vasodilator prostaglandins may contribute to normal, low vascular tone in the pulmonary circulation.