The membrane-bound metalloproteinase, neutral endopeptidase (NEP), is a degrading enzyme of both bronchoconstrictor and bronchodilator peptides within the airways. To examine the role of NEP in exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) in asthmatic subjects, we used inhaled thiorphan, a NEP inhibitor, as pretreatment to a 6-min standardized exercise challenge. Thirteen clinically stable asthmatic subjects participated in this double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study that was performed on 2 days separated by 48 h. Thiorphan was administered by two inhalations of 0.5 ml containing 1.25 mg/ml. Subsequently, exercise was performed on a bicycle ergometer at 40-50% of predicted maximal voluntary ventilation while inhaling dry air (20 degrees C, relative humidity 6%). The airway response to exercise was measured by forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) every 3 min, up to 30 min postexercise challenge, and was expressed both as the maximal percent fall in FEV1 from baseline and as the area under the time-response curve (AUC) (0-30 min). The acute effects of both pretreatments on baseline FEV1 were not different (P > 0.2), neither was there any difference in maximal percent fall in FEV1 between thiorphan and placebo (P > 0.7). However, compared with placebo, thiorphan reduced the AUC by, on average, 26% [AUC (0-30 min, +/-SE): 213.6 +/- 47.7 (thiorphan) and 288.6 +/- 46.0%fall.h (placebo); P = 0.047]. These data indicate that NEP inhibition by thiorphan reduces EIB during the recovery period. This suggests that bronchodilator NEP substrates, such as vasoactive intestinal polypeptide or atrial natriuretic peptide, modulate EIB in patients with asthma.