1. Bradykinin (BK) receptors, cytosolic Ca2+, and prostanoids were studied in human skin and foreskin fibroblasts. 2. Bmax values of BK receptors were higher in foreskin than in skin fibroblasts, increasing with cell densities in both cell types. IL-1alpha-dependent receptor induction was blocked by cycloheximide. 3. BK-stimulated cytosolic Ca2+ elevation was higher in confluent than in non-confluent cultures and larger in foreskin than in skin fibroblasts. Responses were not enhanced after IL-1-alpha-induced up-regulation of BK receptors. 4. Intrinsic prostanoid production was higher in foreskin than in skin fibroblasts at comparable cell densities. In foreskin, but not in skin fibroblasts, BK stimulation increased the release of PGE2 10 fold and that of 6-oxo-PGF1alpha 6-7 fold. 5. Preincubation with IL-1alpha had a marked effect on prostanoid release in foreskin fibroblasts only. Subsequent BK stimulation increased the release of PGE2 and 6-oxo-PGF1alpha 7-10 fold in skin fibroblasts while this increase was only 30% in foreskin fibroblasts. Release of TXA2 reached values up to one third of the other prostanoids. The IL-1alpha induced rise in BK-stimulated PGE2 synthesis was fully abolished by specific inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase 2. 6. IL-1alpha sensitized BK-stimulated prostanoid synthesis and modulated prostanoid patterns differently in fibroblasts from skin and foreskin. The IL-1alpha effects on prostanoid release were not related to BK receptor numbers nor to the BK-stimulated Ca2+ signal but appear to be due to induction of prostanoid synthesizing enzymes. Foreskin fibroblasts seem to be unique and significantly different from fibroblasts of other skin locations in respect to their response to inflammation-associated kinins and cytokines.