The respiratory inductive plethysmograph is a noninvasive device that has been used to measure tidal volume (VT) in humans from changes in self-inductance of wire coils excited by an oscillator circuit placed about the rib cage and abdomen. We investigated its accuracy in conscious sheep utilizing a new calibration procedure during quiet breathing and breathing associated with bronchospasm provoked by aerosolized carbachol. Seven sheep were intubated with a nasotracheal tube and an esophageal balloon placed for determination of transpulmonary pressure. Base-line mean pulmonary flow resistance (RL) in the sheep was 1.5 +/- 0.7 (SD) cmH2O X l-1 X s. After carbachol inhalation, mean RL increased to a maximum of 8.8 +/- 2.8 cmH2O X l-1 X s (P less than 0.002). AT base line, mean VT estimated by respiratory inductive plethysmography over a 20-s period fell within +/- 6% of spirometry. After carbachol VT in five of the sheep remained close to the initial validation, but in two, it deviated +/- 11% from spirometry. Analysis of the continuous recording of timing and volume components of the breaths revealed that bronchoprovocation did not significantly alter mean VT or frequency. However, there was a slight increase in both parameters resulting in an increase in minute ventilation from 7.6 +/- 2.4 to 9.6 +/- 2.8 l/min (P less than 0.02). Similarly, a slight decline in inspiratory time coupled with the slight rise in VT produced an increase in mean respiratory flow from a base-line value of 0.35 +/- 0.12 to 0.44 +/- 0.17 l/s (P less than 0.05). These results indicate that the respiratory inductive plethysmography accurately monitors breathing pattern in conscious sheep even during severe bronchospasm.