D2/E2-isoprostanes, are a recently discovered series of novel prostaglandin-like compounds that are produced in vivo as products of free radical-catalyzed peroxidation of arachidonic acid independent of the cyclooxygenase enzyme. One of the E-ring compounds expected to be produced in abundance by this mechanism, 8-iso-prostaglandin E2 (8-iso-PGE2), is a potent renal vasoconstrictor in the rat, and this effect can be abrogated by the thromboxane/endoperoxide (TxA2/PGH2) receptor antagonist SQ29548, suggesting that 8-iso-PGE2 exerts these effects by interaction with this receptor in the vasculature. Nonetheless, it has recently been suggested that 8-iso-PGE2 induces vasoconstriction by interaction with a unique receptor similar to, but distinct from, the TxA2/PGH2 receptor. Because this issue has not been resolved, we carried out studies to further examine the interaction of this compound with the TxA2/PGH2 receptor on human and rat platelets. Only at concentrations of 10(-5) M or greater did 8-iso-PGE2 induce human platelet aggregation. The aggregation was unaffected by indomethacin but was inhibited by the TxA2/PGH2 receptor antagonist SQ29548. Conversely, 8-iso-PGE2 inhibited the thromboxane receptor agonists U46619 (10(-6) M) and IBOP (3.3 x 10(-7) M) with an IC50 of 5 x 10(-7) M and 5 x 10(-6) M, respectively. 8-iso-PGE2 also inhibited platelet aggregation induced by arachidonic acid but not by ADP. Similarly in rat platelets, 8-iso-PGE2 alone.