Isolated smooth muscle cells from the circular layer of pig and guinea-pig ileum were used to study the effect of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and three PGE2 receptor (EP) agonists; iloprost (EP1), butaprost (EP2) and enprostil (EP3). In pig cells, PGE2 and enprostil induced cell contraction (22.1 and 21.5% shortening of cell length, obtained at 10 nM for PGE2 and 1 nM for enprostil, respectively). Iloprost and butaprost had no contractile effect. However, the cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8; 10 nM)-induced contraction was inhibited when cells were preincubated with iloprost or butaprost. In guinea-pig cells, PGE2, butaprost and iloprost induced cell contraction, whereas enprostil had no effect (23.1% for 10 nM PGE2, 22.8% for 1 nM butaprost and 22.6% for 10 nM iloprost). Preincubation with SC19220 (EP1 antagonist) inhibited the PGE2-, butaprost- and iloprost-induced contractions. When the contractile effect of PGE2, butaprost and iloprost was inhibited by addition of SC19220, these agents inhibited the cell contraction induced by CCK-8 (1 nM). Smooth muscle cells from guinea-pig and pig ileum express two PGE2 receptor subtypes that induce opposite effect. EP1 and EP3 receptors mediate cell contraction in guinea-pig and pig, respectively, whereas EP2 receptors mediate cell relaxation in both species.