Comparative effects of CV-6209, a potent and specific platelet activating factor (PAF) antagonist, on PAF-acether-, carrageenin-, histamine-, serotonin-, compound 48/80-, dextran-, zymosan A- and arachidonic acid-induced rat paw edema were investigated. CV-6209 has proven to be effective in PAF-induced edema, but it also showed a significant activity in other models of paw edema, except those induced by zymosan A and arachidonic acid. Other drugs tested, namely indometacin, mepyramine, methysergide and nordihydroguaiaretic acid showed a more selective inhibitory profile. These results suggest an important role of PAF in the inflammatory process caused by intraplantar injection of different phlogogenes in the rat paw.