Orthovanadate (vanadate) inhibited the platelet aggregation induced by platelet-activating factor (PAF) in a dose-dependent manner. Propranolol, a nonspecific beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist, and H-8, a selective inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), suppressed the inhibition of the PAF-induced platelet aggregation by vanadate. Vanadate increased the cAMP content in platelets accompanied by the activation of PKA. The beta-adrenergic receptors of platelets have been reported to be abundant in the beta(2) isoform, coupled to adenylyl cyclases (R. Kerry and M. C. Scrutton, Br. J. Pharmacol., 79, 681-691 (1983)). When the washed platelets were preincubated with vanadate, salbutamol, a selective beta(2)-adrenergic receptor agonist, or 8-Br-cAMP, the latter two mimicked the vanadate-induced anti-platelet aggregation and prolongation of clotting time of plasma, suggesting involvement of the increased intracellular cAMP content in both actions of vanadate. Butoxamine, a selective beta(2)-adrenergic receptor antagonist, suppressed both actions of vanadate. The vanadate-induced increase in cAMP content was inhibited in part by butoxamine or genistein. These results suggest that vanadate inhibits the PAF-induced platelet aggregation by the stimulation of a cAMP/PKA-dependent process via the beta(2)-adrenergic receptor and receptor tyrosine kinases, and that the anti-platelet aggregation is involved in part in mechanisms of the anticoagulant action of vanadate.