Cyclic GMP has been proposed as an intracellular mediator of neuronally-induced relaxation in lower esophageal sphincter (LES) smooth muscle. If cyclic GMP is indeed an intracellular messenger, then agents that activate enteric neurons of the sphincter [e.g. the ganglionic nicotinic receptor agonist dimethylphenylpiperazinium (DMPP)] also should cause a relaxation that is associated with an increase in cyclic GMP content. In isolated smooth muscle strips of canine LES, DMPP produced a rapid relaxation that was accompanied by a significant (P less than 0.05) increase in cyclic GMP content with no change in cyclic AMP content. Pretreatment of tissues with either tetrodotoxin or hexamethonium antagonized both the DMPP-induced relaxation and the associated increase in cyclic GMP. The combination of phentolamine and meclofenamic acid also antagonized both the relaxation and the elevation of cyclic GMP produced by DMPP. Electrical field stimulation (EFS)-induced relaxation and elevation in cyclic GMP was unaltered by meclofenamic acid and phentolamine. In conclusion, DMPP (like neuronal electrical activation) relaxed isolated canine LES through an enteric neuronal inhibitory pathway. The presence of phentolamine and meclofenamic acid did not affect EFS-induced effects, but blocked both the relaxation and the increase in cyclic GMP produced by DMPP, suggesting a more complicated pathway for DMPP in the release of inhibitory transmitter.