Studies were conducted to investigate cross-talk between protein kinase C (PKC) and cyclic AMP (cAMP) pathways using rat glomeruli (Glm). Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a PKC activator, stimulated production of reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM) in Glm. Forskolin and dibutyryl cAMP (Bt2cAMP) inhibited production of ROM dose-dependently. In the presence of both Bt2cAMP and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) an additive effect was observed. Forskolin at 10(-4) inhibited translocation of PKC from the cytosol to the membrane. These results demonstrate that cAMP-mediated inhibition can occur at a step distal to PKC activation.