In this study, we investigated the mechanism of angiotensin II (Ang II) induced secretion of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) from astroglial cells prepared from 21-day-old rat brain. Competition-inhibition experiments with the use of selective antagonists for Ang II receptor subtypes indicated that astroglial cells contain chiefly Ang II type 1 (AT1) receptors. The interaction of Ang II with AT1 receptors resulted in a time- and concentration-dependent stimulation of PAI-1 gene expression. A maximal, 20-fold induction of PAI-1 messenger RNA (mRNA) steady-state levels was observed with 10 nM Ang II. This effect of Ang II was blocked by DuP753, an AT1 receptor antagonist, but not by PD123177, an AT2 receptor antagonist. Raise in PAI-1 mRNA levels was followed by an elevation in PAI-1 concentration in culture media reaching its maximum after 24 h. Interaction of Ang II with AT1 receptors also resulted in a time- and concentration-dependent stimulation of inositol phospholipid (IP) hydrolysis. A maximal, 3- to 5-fold stimulation of IP hydrolysis was observed with 10 nM Ang II. The time course experiments indicated that Ang II-induced stimulation of IP hydrolysis precedes the stimulation of PAI-1 mRNA. This suggested that activation of phospholipase C, IP hydrolysis system and possibly protein kinase C (PKC) may mediate Ang II's effect on PAI-1 mRNA. Direct stimulation of PKC by phorbol ester, phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDB), resulted in a time- and concentration-dependent elevation of PAI-1 mRNA levels, similar to that caused by Ang II (maximal stimulation of 20-fold with 100 nM PDB for 4 h). This effect was totally blocked by the protein kinase C inhibitor, H7. In addition, Ang II stimulation of PAI-1 mRNA was also blocked by H7. In contrast, Ang II did not elevate PAI-1 mRNA levels in astroglial cultures from neonatal rat brains. However, treatment of neonatal cultures with PDB increased levels of this mRNA species. These observations indicate that the coupling of AT1 receptors with IP hydrolysis and PKC activation may be important for Ang II stimulation of PAI-1 gene expression. The lack of Ang II's effect on PAI-1 mRNA in neonatal astroglia may be explained either by a low coupling efficiency between AT1 receptors and the second messenger system, or by a low AT1 to AT2 receptor level ratio.