We previously reported that prostaglandin E(1) (PGE(1)) activates both p44/p42 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase and p38 MAP kinase via cAMP-dependent protein kinase in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells, and that p38 MAP kinase but not p42/p44 MAP kinase is involved in PGE(1)-induced synthesis of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In the present study, we investigated the involvement of stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK) in the PGE(1)-induced VEGF synthesis in MC3T3-E1 cells. PGE(1) induced the phosphorylation of SAPK/JNK. SP600125, a specific inhibitor of SAPK/JNK, markedly reduced the PGE(1)-induced VEGF synthesis. Forskolin, a direct activator of adenylyl cyclase, elicited the phosphorylation of SAPK/JNK, and 8bromo-cAMP, a plasma membrane-permeable cAMP analogue-stimulated VEGF synthesis was significantly reduced by SP600125. SP600125 suppressed the PGE(1)-induced phosphorylation of SAPK/JNK without affecting the phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase induced by PGE(1). The phosphorylation of c-Jun induced by PGE(1) was also inhibited by SP600125. SB203580, a p38 MAP kinase inhibitor, failed to reduce the PGE(1) induced phosphorylation of SAPK/JNK. A combination of SP600125 and SB203580 suppressed the PGE(1)-stimulated VEGF synthesis in an additive manner. These results strongly suggest that PGE(1) activates SAPK/JNK in osteoblasts, and that SAPK/JNK plays a part in PGE(1)-induced VEGF synthesis.