In order to examine the role of phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate (PIP2) hydrolysis in B cell activation, we studied the effect of various classes of protein kinase C (PKC) activators on anti-Ig-mediated B cell stimulation. Anti-Ig-stimulated PIP2 hydrolysis, elevations in [Ca2+]i, and induction of DNA synthesis were inhibited by PMA (a phorbol ester) as previously reported. In contrast, indolactam (an alkaloid PKC activator) inhibited PIP2 hydrolysis and elevations in [Ca2+]i, but stimulated rather than inhibited cellular proliferation. In order to examine whether the binding avidity of the PKC activators to PKC played a role in determining their activity to stimulate or inhibit B cell activation, we studied two other PKC activators, bryostatin and mezerein. Again, both inhibited anti-Ig mediated PIP2 hydrolysis and elevations in [Ca2+]i, whereas only the former inhibited induction of DNA synthesis. These data suggest that a) high levels of PIP2 hydrolysis and elevations in [Ca2+]i are not essential for anti-Ig-mediated induction of B cell DNA synthesis and b) activation of PKC may induce both stimulatory and inhibitory pathways of B cell activation, and whether stimulation or inhibition of cell activation is observed may depend on the combined intensity of these two signals.