Dose-response relations in rabbits for 3-h intravenous infusion of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and (15S)-15-methyl-1-prostaglandin E2 methyl ester (MePGE2) on plasma fibrinogen and systolic blood pressure were determined and described by regression equations. MePGE2 was 20 times more active than PGE2. Fibrinogen synthetic rate responses to PGE2 and MePGE2 were estimated. Infusion of the PGE2 precursor, arachidonic acid, elevated plasma fibrinogen, but fibrinogen response to 0.5-9 mg/kg arachidonic acid was unrelated to dose and half that given by 3 mg/kg PGE2. Slow infusion of several other fatty acids raised plasma fibrinogen as effectively as arachidonic acid, but prostaglandins D2 and F2alpha had only a slight effect. Infusion of 30 times the indomethacin dose that blocks platelet prostaglandin synthetase did not alter the plasma fibrinogen response to arachidonic acid. Indomethacin did not inhibit plasma fibrinogen elevations following ACTH or endotoxin infusion, or subcutaneous turpentine injection. Intravenous infusion of two cyclic ether prostaglandin endoperoxide analogs, (15S)-hydroxy-9alpha, 11alpha-(epoxymethano) prosta-5Z, 13E-dienoic acid, and (15S)-hydroxy-11alpha, 9alpha(epoxymethano) prosta-5Z, 13E-dienoic acid, failed to increase plasma fibrinogen.