The effects of melatonin on platelet aggregation and thromboxane-B2 (TxB2) production induced by 1-4 x 10(-6) M adenosine diphosphate (ADP) or 0.6 x 10(-3) M arachidonic acid (AA) were assessed in platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Micromolar concentrations of melatonin inhibited in a dose-dependent way ADP-induced platelet aggregation with individual inhibitions 40% or more at 10(-6)-10(-5) M. A significant depression of AA-induced platelet aggregation was observed only at 10(-5)-10(-4) M melatonin. Morning (0830 h)-evening (1800 h) studies of ADP-induced platelet aggregation in seven normal men showed a higher sensitivity at 1800 h when analyzed as a global inhibitory effect of melatonin (P less than 0.01). Moreover, only during the evening hours did melatonin induce reversible aggregation, an index of inhibition of the platelet secretory process elicited by ADP exposure. No diurnal variability in melatonin inhibition of AA-induced aggregation was detected. TxB2 production elicited by AA in the evening was inhibited significantly in a concentration-related manner by a 2-min preincubation with 10(-9)-10(-5) M melatonin, while during the morning hours the inhibition was significant only at 10(-6) M or higher melatonin concentrations. In the case of ADP, the inhibition of TxB2 release attained significance at 10(-5)-M (0830 h) or 10(-6)-M concentrations (1800 h). In the presence of either stimulatory agent, melatonin depression of TxB2 generation was about 2-fold greater at 1800 h than at 0830 h. The diurnal changes in melatonin effect on TxB2 production were also observed in thrombin-stimulated washed platelets. The present data indicate the existence of circadian variations in platelet responsiveness to melatonin in humans.