The anti-platelet activity of KB-2796, 1-[bis(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]-4- (2,3,4-trimethoxybenzyl) piperazine dihydrochloride, was studied in guinea pigs and mice. When guinea pig platelet-rich plasma (PRP) was employed, platelet function was inhibited at high doses of KB-2796. The IC50 value for [3H]5-HT release was 940 microM, and the IC50 values for collagen- and ADP-induced platelet aggregation were 210 and 390 microM, respectively. Oral administration of KB-2796 at 10-100 mg/kg dose-dependently inhibited the transient thrombocytopenia induced by collagen, but not that caused by ADP. KB-2796 protected mice from death after intravenous injection of collagen plus epinephrine, with an ED50 value of 9.5 mg/kg, p.o. Oral administration of KB-2796 at 10-100 mg/kg dose-dependently reduced guinea pig platelet retention in glass bead columns and reduced the leakage of ADP and ATP from erythrocytes passing through similar columns. KB-2796, at a concentration of 1-10 microM, produced a stabilizing effect on guinea pig erythrocytes against hypotonic hemolysis. These results suggest that KB-2796 is an inhibitor of platelet function and that its inhibition is related mainly to the inhibition of leakage of ADP and ATP from erythrocytes.