Stimulation of Ca2+ mobilization and entry by agonists such as ADP, thrombin, and thromboxane is an early step of platelet activation. Here, we compared the effects of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-elevating prostaglandins, guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP)-elevating nitrovasodilators, membrane-permeant selective activators of cAMP- or cGMP-dependent protein kinases, and physiological endothelium-derived factors on the agonist-evoked Ca2+ mobilization and entry in human platelets. Prostaglandin E1, the prostacyclin analogue Iloprost, the nitric oxide (NO) donor 3-morpholinosydnonimine hydrochloride, and selective activators of cGMP- or cAMP-dependent protein kinase strongly inhibited the agonist-evoked Ca2+ mobilization from intracellular stores and associated late Ca2+ entry but had little effects on the rapid (1st) phase of ADP-evoked Ca2+ entry. During coincubation of platelets with endothelial cells, endothelium-derived factors that were released strongly inhibited platelet agonist-evoked Ca2+ mobilization and only moderately affected the rapid phase of ADP-evoked Ca2+ entry. These effects were partially prevented when endothelial cells were preincubated with cyclooxygenase and/or NO synthase inhibitors. Endothelial cells therefore produce sufficient quantities of labile platelet inhibitors whose effects on the platelet Ca2+ response resemble those observed with selective cAMP- and cGMP-dependent protein kinase activators.