Airway inflammation characterized by neutrophils and free elastase contributes to allergic mucociliary dysfunction. Glucocorticosteroids are the most important anti-inflammatory agents used in the treatment of asthma, but their effect on allergic mucociliary dysfunction is not known. Therefore, we assessed both the prophylactic and therapeutic effects of the glucocorticosteroid budesonide on antigen-induced mucociliary dysfunction in sheep. Tracheal mucus velocity (TMV), a marker of mucociliary clearance, was measured by using a roentgenographic technique. When budesonide was administered either 30 min before or 1 h after airway challenge with Ascaris suum, the antigen-induced fall in TMV at 6 h was prevented. The effects on TMV at 8 and 24 h after challenge were also determined when budesonide and, for comparative purposes, alpha1-protease inhibitor were given 6 h after antigen challenge. Budesonide treatment improved TMV at 8 h, but TMV was not significantly different from antigen alone at 24 h. Treatment with alpha1-protease inhibitor, however, caused only a significant reversal of the antigen-induced fall in TMV at 24 h after challenge; this indicates a more prolonged effect than budesonide. Our results suggest that antiproteases may have a potential role as a therapeutic approach to mucociliary dysfunction in asthma and provide evidence for another means by which glucocorticosteroids contribute to the control of the disease.