Influences of indomethacin, which has been known as an inhibitor of the production of prostaglandins, on the suppression of footpad reaction (FPR) of BALB/c mice against sheep red blood cells by the painting of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA, a typical tumor promoter) were studied. The temporary suppressive effect by the painting of TPA (8 nmol) was abrogated by the painting of indomethacin (7-70 nmol) 60 min before TPA treatments. The lasting suppressive effect by TPA treatment (8 nmol/d) for 7 d following the painting of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA, 400 nmol), which is a typical tumor initiator, also disappeared when indomethacin (7 nmol) was painted 30-90 min before each TPA treatment. Influences of some inhibitors of tumor promotion on the lasting suppressive effect of FPR by DMBA and TPA were also tested. Painting of 0.6-mu-mol of 1-phenyl-2-pyrazolidone, 8.2 nmol of salcophytol A, 17 nmol of retinoic acid, 5.6-mu-mol of 3(2)-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisol, and 3-mu-mol of quercetin 45 min before each TPA treatment decreased the suppressive effect on the footpad reaction.