Arachidonic acid (AA) injected into hindpaws of Lewis rats produces a severe edematous response. Treatment with corticosteroids (dexamethasone, prednisolone), dual inhibitors of arachidonate metabolism (phenidone, SK & F 86002), anti-histamine/serotonin agents (chlorpheniramine, cyproheptadine) and a gold compound (auranofin) inhibited AA-induced edema. In contrast, administration of high doses of cyclooxygenase inhibitors (indomethacin, piroxicam, naproxen, ibuprofen, meclofenamic acid and tiflamizole) did not affect AA-induced hind paw edema. The involvement of lipoxygenase products and mast cell mediators in the edematous response to arachidonic acid render this model potentially useful for studying antiinflammatory agents with a mechanism of action different from that of cyclooxygenase inhibitors.