Insulin treatment of platelets is associated with increased prostaglandin E1-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity and decreased platelet aggregation. Because non-insulin dependent (Type II) diabetes mellitus is associated with hyperinsulinemia, we sought to determine the effect of insulin treatment in vivo and in vitro upon stimulation of platelet adenylyl cyclase by prostaglandin E1. Incubation of platelet-rich plasma obtained from normal subjects with 2 microM prostaglandin E1 resulted in a 16-fold increase in cAMP accumulation. Pre-incubation of platelet-rich plasma with 0.7 nM insulin resulted in a 62% increase in prostaglandin E1 (2 microM)-stimulated cAMP accumulation (p < 0.005). Pretreatment of platelets with cholera toxin prior to incubation with insulin had no effect on subsequent prostaglandin E1-stimulated cAMP accumulation. By contrast, pretreatment of platelets with pertussis toxin prior to incubation with insulin resulted in a nearly 2-fold increase in prostaglandin E1-stimulated cAMP accumulation (p < 0.005). To determine whether platelets exposed in vivo to elevated concentrations of insulin would show similar responses, we isolated platelet-rich plasma from subjects before and after a 120 minute euglycemic clamp study in which insulin was infused (40 mU m-2min-1) intravenously. Patients who underwent the euglycemic clamp study achieved steady state serum levels on insulin of 0.70 +/- 0.19 pmol/ml. Platelets obtained after insulin infusion had a 65% increase in prostaglandin E1-stimulated cAMP. Our results indicate that serum levels of insulin that are common in patients with type II diabetes mellitus can increase the sensitivity of platelet adenylyl cyclase to stimulation by prostaglandin E1.