Bradykinin and prostaglandins are both local mediators strongly implicated in pain and inflammation. Here, we have investigated the effects of bradykinin on the release of prostaglandin E-2 from cultured neurones derived from adult rat trigeminal ganglia. Bradykinin was a potent inducer of prostaglandin E-2 release, an effect that was likely mediated by bradykinin B-2 receptors, as the bradykinin-induced prostaglandin E-2 release was attenuated by the bradykinin B-2 receptor-selective antagonist, arginyl-L-prolyl-trans-4-hydroxy-L-prolylglycyl-3-(2-thienyl)-L-alanyl-L-seryl-D-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-3-isoquinolinecarbonyl-L-(2alpha, 3beta, 7abeta)-octahydro-1H-indole-2-carbonyl-L-arginine (HOE 140), but not by the bradykinin B-1 receptor-selective antagonist, des-Arg(9)[Leu(8)]-bradykinin. Furthennore, bradykinin-induced prostaglandin E-2 release was inhibited following treatment with the phospholipase A(2) inhibitor, arachidonyltrifluoromethyl ketone (AACOCF(3)), the nonselective cyclooxygenase inhibitor, piroxicam, the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase-1 (MEK1) inhibitor, 2'-amino-3'-methoxyflavone (PD98059), and the protein kinase C inhibitor, bisindolylmaleimide XI (Ro320432). Taken together, these data suggest that bradykinin, acting via bradykinin B-2 receptors, induces prostaglandin E-2 release from trigeminal neurones through the protein kinase C and mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent activation of phospholipase A(2) and consequent stimulation of cyclooxygenases. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.