Accumulation of inositol phosphates (Ins-Ps, revealed by high performance liquid chromatography), changes of the cytosolic free Ca2+ [( Ca2+]i, revealed by fura-2), membrane potential and ionic currents (revealed by bis-oxonol and patch clamping) were investigated in PC12 cells treated with bradykinin (BK). The phenomena observed were (a) due to the activation of a B2 receptor (inhibitor studies) and (b) unaffected by pertussis toxin, cAMP analogs, and inhibitors of either cyclooxygenase or voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. During the initial tens of s, three interconnected events predominated: accumulation of Ins-1,4,5-P3, Ca2+ release from intracellular stores and hyperpolarization due to the opening of Ca2+-activated K+ channels. Phorbol myristate acetate partially inhibited Ins-1,4,5-P3 accumulation at all [BK] investigated, and the [Ca2+]i increase at [BK] less than 50 nM. In PC12 cells treated with maximal [BK] in the Ca2+-containing incubation medium, Ins-1,4,5-P3 peaked at 10 s, dropped to 20% of the peak at 30 s, and returned to basal within 5 min; the peak increase of Ins-1,3,4-P3 was slower and was variable from experiment to experiment, while Ins-P4 rose for 2 min, and remained elevated for many min thereafter. Meanwhile, influx of Ca2+ from the extracellular medium, plasma membrane depolarization (visible without delay when hyperpolarization was blocked), and increased plasma membrane conductance were noticed. Evidence is presented that these last three events (which were partially inhibited by phorbol myristate acetate at all [BK]) were due to the activation of a cation influx, which was much more persistent than the elevation of the two Ins-P3 isomers. Our results appear inconsistent with the possibility that in intact PC12 cells the BK-induced activation of cation influx is accounted for entirely by the increases of either Ins-1,3,4-P3 or Ins-1,4,5-P3 (alone or in combination with Ins-1,3,4,5-P4), as previously suggested by microinjection studies in different cell types.