We have studied relaxation of airway smooth muscle by sevoflurane, desflurane and halothane in the isolated guinea-pig trachea. Ring preparations were mounted in tissue baths filled with physiological salt solution (PSS), aerated continuously with 5% carbon dioxide in oxygen. Electrical field stimulation (EFS) elicited cholinergic contractions that were abolished by tetrodotoxin, indicating nerve-mediated responses. Anaesthetics were added to the gas aerating the tissue baths. Halothane, sevoflurane and desflurane at 0.5-1.0 MAC markedly attenuated cholinergic contractions to EFS. Initiation of contractile responses to acetylcholine (ACh) were not affected by volatile anaesthetics, suggesting prejunctional inhibition (i.e. inhibition of acetylcholine release). When added to a maintained submaximal contraction to ACh, volatile anaesthetics induced relaxation, indicating postjunctional inhibition. We conclude that sevoflurane, desflurane and halothane inhibited postganglionic cholinergic neuroeffector transmission in the trachea. The effect was probably exerted via pre- and postjunctional mechanisms (i.e. inhibition of acetylcholine release and direct muscle actions). Sevoflurane and desflurane were more potent than halothane both pre- and postjunctionally.