We have characterized the in-vitro modulation of both nitric oxide (NO)-dependent vasodilator activity and anti-platelet function by the novel type-V phosphodiesterase inhibitor, ONO-1505 (4-[2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethylamino]-2-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-6-methoxyquin azoline methanesulphonate). ONO-1505 elicited vasorelaxation in the rat isolated aorta. If the concentration of ONO-1505 was < or = 10 microM the vasorelaxation was abolished by N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), by methylene blue, and by endothelial denudation. Furthermore, pretreatment of the rat isolated aorta for 10 min with ONO-1505 in the presence of L-NAME potentiated vasorelaxation to the NO-donor, sodium nitroprusside. Similarly, ONO-1505, although having no effect on adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced rat platelet aggregation in-vitro, augmented established anti-aggregatory effects of sodium nitroprusside. The data therefore show that the novel phosphodiesterase V inhibitor ONO-1505 augments endogenous and exogenous nitrovasodilator activity in-vitro; they also imply modulation of the NO pathway in the haemodynamic actions of this compound, previously reported in-vivo.