Infusion of lysolecithin (LPC; e.g. 88 microgram/ml for 0.5-1.0 min) did not significantly impair the vasopressor action of norepinephrine (NE), prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) and extract of posterior pituitary (EPP) in the isolated perfused hind legs of rats. In other words, vascular smooth muscle behaves differently from the smooth muscle of the guinea-pig small intestine, since, in the latter, contractions evoked by acetylcholine, prostaglandins etc., are inhibited by LPC. Triton X 100 which, by comparison, was used as a detergent effective on the guinea-pig small intestine, depressed the vasopressor effect of NE, PGF2 alpha and EPP. LPC, at low concentrations (40 mumol/l), potentiated (15% max.) ADP-induced platelet aggregation (PA) in rat PRP but, at high concentrations, inhibited PA (IC50 = 390 mumol/l). 2-Hexadecylglycerophosphocholine and its short-chain 1-alkyl ethers, which are structurally related to platelet-activating factor, as well as some long-chain alkanol phosphocholine esters, were somewhat more active than LPC. Dipalmitoyllecithin (4-700 mumol/l) was without any effect.