We examined effects of small dose (1 microM or less) of exogenous 12-hydroperoxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (12-HPETE) on the formation of cyclooxygenase products from exogenous arachidonic acid (AA) in washed human platelets. With a simultaneous addition of AA, 12-HPETE did not affect the formation of thromboxane (TX)B2 and 12-hydroxy-5,8,10-heptadecatrienoic acid (HHT). However, by being preincubated with platelets before an addition of AA, 0.1 microM or greater of 12-HPETE inhibited the formation of TXB2 and HHT dose-dependently. In addition, the inhibitory effect of 12-HPETE increased as the preincubation time was prolonged. These results suggest that 12-HPETE is a strong inhibitor for the cyclooxygenase pathway.