Isolated pancreatic islets of the rat were either prelabeled with [3H]arachidonic acid, or were incubated over the short term with the concomitant addition of radiolabeled arachidonic acid and a stimulatory concentration of glucose (17mM) for prostaglandin (PG) analysis. In prelabeled islets, radiolabel in 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, PGE2, and 15-keto-13,14-dihydro-PGF2 alpha increased in response to a 5 min glucose (17mM) challenge. In islets not prelabeled with arachidonic acid, label incorporation in 6-keto-PGF1 alpha increased, whereas label in PGE2 decreased during a 5 min glucose stimulation; after 30-45 min of glucose stimulation labeled PGE levels increased compared to control (2.8mM glucose) levels. Enhanced labelling of PGF2 alpha was not detected in glucose-stimulated islets prelabeled or not. Isotope dilution with endogenous arachidonic acid probably occurs early in the stimulus response in islets not prelabeled. D-Galactose (17mM) or 2-deoxyglucose (17mM) did not alter PG production. Indomethacin inhibited islet PG turnover and potentiated glucose-stimulated insulin release. Islets also converted the endoperoxide [3H]PGH2 to 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, PGF2 alpha, PGE2 and PGD2, in a time-dependent manner and in proportions similar to arachidonic acid-derived PGs. In dispersed islet cells, the calcium ionophore ionomycin, but not glucose, enhanced the production of labeled PGs from arachidonic acid. Insulin release paralleled PG production in dispersed cells, however, indomethacin did not inhibit ionomycin-stimulated insulin release, suggesting that PG synthesis was not required for secretion. In confirmation of islet PGI2 turnover indicated by 6-keto-PGF1 alpha production, islet cell PGI2-like products inhibited platelet aggregation induced by ADP. These results suggest that biosynthesis of specific PGs early in the glucose secretion response may play a modulatory role in islet hormone secretion, and that different pools of cellular arachidonic acid may contribute to PG biosynthesis in the microenvironment of the islet.