Diethylstilbestrol and other stilbene derivatives can provide some inhibition of the outwardly rectifying Cl- current (I(Cl-,OR)) in rat peritoneal mast cells. In order to elucidate structure-activity relationships of diethylstilbestrol, 12 stilbenes as well as 17beta-estradiol and hexestrol were tested in rat peritoneal mast cells using the nystatin-perforated patch approach of the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Since trans-stilbene showed no effect, the substituents of diethylstilbestrol must be of importance. The introduction of only one hydroxy group in trans-stilbene produced potent inhibition of the I(Cl-,OR) (IC50: 3.3 microM). But in contrast, resveratrol with hydroxy groups at positions 4, 3', and 5' as well as methoxy substituted stilbene derivatives and 17beta-estradiol were ineffective. On the other hand, hexestrol potently inhibited I(Cl-,OR) indicating that the aromatic ring systems can also be connected by an ethyl bridge. In summary, a hydroxy group at position 4 (or 4') is a prerequisite for diethylstilbestrol-mediated inhibition of I(Cl-,OR).