Initially we established that, in human platelets, low concentrations of HDL3 stimulate phosphatidylcholine (PC) hydrolysis and a transient increase in 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG). In (3H) PC prelabelled platelets, phosphocholine is released into the medium during HDL3 induced PC turnover with a 1.5 to 2 fold increment, indicating that HDL3 stimulated DAG generation in platelets is likely due to phospholipase C (PLC). GTP or GTP-gamma-S augments, and pertussis toxin inhibits HDL3 stimulated DAG production. Treatment of platelet membranes with HDL3 or with proteoliposome containing apo A-I or A-II substantially prevents 41 kDa protein ADP-ribosylation that was induced by pertussis toxin, with apo A-II having an inhibitory potency greater than apo A-I. These data provide strong evidence that the pertussis sensible G protein (Go or Gi) is directly involved in coupling PLC to HDL3 receptor in platelets.