Cross-linking the membrane immunoglobulins of resting B cells leads to activation as judged by increased inositol phospholipid metabolism, intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), and cell volume. Such activated B cells enter S phase in the presence of B-cell stimulatory factor 1. Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) is a potent inhibitor of anti-IgM- and anti-IgD-stimulated B-cell responses. In B cells concentrations of PMA ranging from 0.1 to 100 ng/ml completely inhibit anti-IgM-stimulated DNA synthesis and block anti-IgM-stimulated increases in inositol phospholipid metabolism and in [Ca2+]i. Preincubation periods as short as 4 min block these effects although longer preincubations are somewhat more effective in inhibiting increases in [Ca2+]i. Preincubation with PMA for 1.5 hr does not diminish expression of membrane IgM. This strongly suggests that PMA inhibits responses of resting B cells to anti-IgM by interrupting signal transmission rather than by diminishing cross-linking of membrane immunoglobulin on B cells. In contrast to resting B cells, B cells activated in vitro for 29 hr show enhanced responses to anti-IgM in the presence of PMA.