In cloned osteoblast-like cells, MC3T3-E1, 12-O-tetradeeanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), a protein kinase C activating phorbol ester, and I-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol (OAG), a specific activator for protein kinase C, stimulated DNA synthesis in a dose-dependent manner. Both TPA and OAG acted synergistically with insulin-like growth factor I to stimulate DNA synthesis. TPA as well as OAG suppressed the increase in alkaline phosphatase activity of MC3T3-E 1 cells induced by parathyroid hormone. These results suggest that protein kinase C is involved in the process which directs osteoblastlike cells toward proliferation.Protein kinase C; Osteoblast