1. Using [125I-Tyr0]-BK, as radiolabelled ligand, and various agonists and antagonists of bradykinin (BK) we identified a single class of specific BK2-binding sites in mesangial cell membranes (Bmax = 73 fmol mg-1 protein and Kd = 3.7 nM). 2. Following the addition of 0.1 microM BK, inositol (1,4,5) trisphosphate (IP3) formation increased within 20 s from a basal level of 64 to a maximal value of 175 pmol mg-1 protein. 3. Incubation in a Ca(2+)-free medium did not change IP3 production but a 5 min preincubation with 1 mM EGTA completely prevented the BK-induced IP3 formation, suggesting that IP3 formation is partly dependent on extracellular calcium. 4. The BK2 antagonist D-Arg-Hyp3-D-Phe7-BK (10 microM) but not the BK1 antagonist (des-Arg9-Leu8-BK) abolished IP3 production in response to 0.1 microM BK. Pretreatment of mesangial cells with pertussis toxin was without effect on BK-induced IP3 formation, whereas phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate significantly enhanced (by 25%) BK-induced IP3 formation. 5. The present data demonstrate that inositol phosphate breakdown in rat mesangial cells can be mediated via activation of a BK2-kinin receptor and is under negative control of protein-kinase C.