We investigated the affinity of several tachykinin antagonists reportedly selective for NK1 receptors at various tachykinin receptors and NK2 receptors subtypes. The four antagonists tested were: L 668,169, Spantide II, Ac-Thr-DTrp(for)-Phe-NMeBzl (FR 113680) and the novel nonpeptide antagonist (+/-)-CP-96,345. The four antagonists were found to be effective against NK1 receptor-mediated responses in the guinea-pig ileum with the following rank order of potency (pKB values in parentheses): (+/-)-CP-96,345 (8.11) greater than Spantide II (7.08) greater than FR 113680 (6.61) greater than or equal to L 558,169 (6.44). (+/-)-CP-96,345, Spantide II and FR 113680 were distinctly more potent at NK1 receptors than at NK2 receptors (NK2A in the rabbit pulmonary artery, NK2B in the hamster trachea). L 668,169 antagonized neurokinin A-induced contractions in the hamster trachea with an affinity similar (pKB value 6.16) to that found in the guinea-pig ileum for NK1 receptors (pKB value 6.44). All antagonists were inactive at NK3 receptors of the rat portal vein. In a second series of experiments, the affinities of test antagonists for NK1 receptors in the guinea-pig ileum were compared to those for NK1 receptors in the guinea-pig vas deferens, the rabbit jugular vein and the rat urinary bladder. For each antagonist, the affinity measured in the guinea-pig vas deferens and the rabbit jugular vein was comparable to that found in the guinea-pig ileum. In the rat urinary bladder, (+/-)-CP-96,345 was about 100 times less potent in blocking NK1 receptor-mediated contractions than in the guinea-pig ileum.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)