Two cyclic hexapeptides unrelated in chemical structure to oxytocin (OT) were shown in vivo to be antagonists of the contractile action of OT on the uterus. In anesthetized rats challenged with OT (1 micrograms/kg) administered as an i.v. bolus, L-366,682 [cyclo-(L-Pro-D-Trp-L-Ile-D-pipecolic acid-L-pipecolic acid-D-His)] and L-366,948 (D-2-naphthyl-alanine in place of D-Trp) were equipotent with AD50 values of about 100 micrograms/kg i.v. At doses of L-366,682 or L-366,948 causing approximately 90 to 95% block (approximately the AD95 dose) of OT, the duration of action of the antagonists exceeded 145 min. Both compounds exhibited selectivity in the rat, as a dose of either at 300 micrograms/kg i.v. shifted the dose-response for OT-induced uterine contraction to the right by approximately 5-fold but did not affect the dose-response to prostaglandin F2 alpha. Furthermore, neither compound, at a dose of 3 mg/kg i.v., antagonized the action of arginine vasopressin acting at V-1 (pressor effect in pithed rats) or V-2 (antidiuretic) receptors. In conscious, freely moving, pregnant rhesus monkeys, L-366,948 or L-366,682 given i.v. or s.c. were effective antagonists of uterine contractions elicited by an infusion of OT. OT- or arginine vasopressin-like agonist activity was not observed in any of the in vivo models. It is concluded that L-366,682 and L-366,948 act in vivo as reasonably potent, long-acting and selective antagonists at OT receptors in the rat and rhesus uterus.