Using a series of triptans we characterized in vitro the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptor that mediates the contraction in guinea-pig iliac arteries moderately precontracted by prostaglandin F₂ (PGF₂). Additionally, we investigated by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) which triptan-sensitive receptor is present in this tissue. Frovatriptan, zolmitriptan, rizatriptan, naratriptan, sumatriptan, and almotriptan contracted guinea-pig iliac arteries with pD₂ values of 7.52±0.04, 6.72±0.03, 6.38±0.06, 6.22±0.05, 5.86±0.05 and 5.26±0.04 respectively. For comparison, the pD₂ values for 5-HT and 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT) were 7.52±0.02 and 7.55±0.03 respectively. In contrast to all other triptans tested, the concentration-response curve for eletriptan was biphasic (first phase: 0.01–3 M, pD₂6.6; second phase: 10 M). Contractions to 5-HT, 5-CT, frovatriptan, zolmitriptan, rizatriptan, naratriptan, sumatriptan, almotriptan, and eletriptan (first phase) were antagonized by the 5-HT_1B/1D receptor antagonist GR127935 (10 nM) and the 5-HT_1B receptor antagonist SB216641 (10 nM). RT-PCR studies in guinea-pig iliac arteries showed a strong signal for the 5-HT_1B receptor while expression of 5-HT_1D and 5-HT_1F receptors was not detected in any sample. The present results demonstrate that triptan-induced contraction in guinea-pig iliac arteries is mediated by the 5-HT_1B receptor. The guinea-pig iliac artery may be used as a convenient in vitro model to study the (cardio)vascular side-effect potential of anti-migraine drugs of the triptan family.