The effects of prostaglandins on the fibrinolytic activity of cultured human foreskin fibroblasts have been measured by a [125I]fibrin dish assay. Prostaglandin (PG) E1, added to fibroblasts in serum-containing medium, produced dose-dependent increases in the fibrinolytic activity of both cellular extracts and conditioned medium. PGE2 and PGI2, but not PGD2 or 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, also stimulated fibrinolytic activity. In each case, activity was due to the protease plasminogen activator because it was abolished by omitting plasminogen from the fibrinolytic assays. The effects of PGE1 were observed at 10 ng/ml and maximal stimulation occurred at 1 microgram/ml. Levels of both intra- and extracellular plasminogen activator increased, indicating that PGE1 stimulated the overall synthesis and release of the protease. The effects of PGE1 were slow in onset and persistent (greater than 48 hr) and were abolished by cycloheximide and actinomycin D. Cellular plasminogen activator was stimulated by 10 microM isoproterenol and 250 microM dibutyryl cyclic AMP; the effects of PGE1, isoproterenol and dibutyryl cyclic AMP were potentiated by the phosphodiesterase inhibitors 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine (100 microM) and dipyridamole (20 microM). The induction of plasminogen activator by PGE1 may therefore be initiated by stimulation of cellular adenylate cyclase. Increased fibrinolytic stimulation of cellular adenylate cyclase. Increased fibrinolytic activity could contribute to the prolonged beneficial effects which have been reported after the administration of PGE1 and PGI2 in the treatment of occlusive vascular disease.