To elucidate the cellular mechanism by which endothelin (ET) is secreted, we have studied the effects of a variety of vasoactive agents on the secretion of immunoreactive (IR)-ET from cultured bovine endothelial cells (EC). Confluent bovine EC cultured in serum-free medium secreted IR-ET as a function of time. Not only thrombin, but also vasoconstrictive hormones, such as arginine-vasopressin (AVP) and angiotensin (ANG) II, dose-dependently stimulated IR-ET secretion, and these effects were completely abolished by V1-receptor antagonist and [Sar1,Ala8]-ANG II, respectively. Protein kinase C (PKC)-activating phorbol ester and Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin had stimulatory effects on IR-ET secretion, and the combination of both compounds had a synergistic effect. These data suggest that AVP and ANG II, like thrombin, stimulate ET secretion from EC by a mechanism possibly involving receptor-mediated mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ and activation of PKC.