We have studied the cellular mechanism responsible for induction of preproendothelin (preproET)-1 mRNA and release of ET-1 by thrombin in cultured bovine endothelial cells (ECs). Thrombin induced an immediate and dose-dependent formation of inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) with a concomitant increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). The thrombin-induced ET-1 release was abolished either by a phospholipase C inhibitor, a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, or an intracellular Ca(2+)-chelator, whereas a Ca(2+)-channel antagonist was ineffective. A selective thrombin inhibitor (argatroban) decreased IP3 formation and the increase in [Ca2+]i and ET-1 release stimulated by thrombin. Northern blot analysis revealed that thrombin-induced expression of preproET-1 mRNA was inhibited completely by a PKC inhibitor and partially by argatroban. These data suggest that thrombin is involved in the mechanism of preproET-1 mRNA expression and subsequent ET-1 release, possibly through activation PKC and mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ resulting from the receptor-mediated phosphoinositide breakdown in ECs.