1. Synthetic analogues of prostaglandins E2 or F2a, (monocyclic bisenoic prostaglandins), like the endogenous prostaglandin endoperoxides (prostaglandins G2 and H2) from platelets, and like synthetic analogues of prostaglandin H2 (bicyclic bisenoic prostaglandins), can induce aggregation of human platelets, although prostaglandins E2 and F2. themselves are inactive. 2. All the prostanoid compounds that induce platelet aggregation release 5-hydroxytryptamine from platelet dense bodies, but do not release f6-Nacetylglucosaminidase from lysosomal granules. Arachidonic acid evokes a similar response. 3. All endoperoxide analogues tested (bicyclic compounds) were powerful platelet stimulants, and all active compounds (whether mono-or bi-cyclic) apparently acted via the same receptor as the endogenous prostaglandin endoperoxides. 4. The nature and stereospecificity of substituents at positions 11 and 15 (or 16) on prostaglandin E2 are critical determinants for platelet-stimulating activity: deoxy substitution at position 11 plus methylation at position 15 (or 16) produces a potent stimulant, particularly if the groups around C-1 5 are in the S configuration. 5. The effects of these structural modifications are apparently due to, at least in part, a change in side-chain conformation.The formation of platelet aggregates and the associated secretion of platelet constituents, reactions of great importance in haemostasis and thrombosis, are influenced by prostaglandins and related compounds formed by the platelets in response to stimuli and also when these compounds are added exogenously (Kloeze, 1967;Willis, 1974;Samuelsson et al., 1976). The main precursor ofthe prostaglandins formed by most cell types (including platelets) is arachidonic acid, and its metabolic products have important and diverse effects on many cells, but with the notable exception of the corpus luteum (Powell et al., 1975), the receptors that mediate these effects have not yet been well characterized. The platelet provides a valuable cellular model for studying such prostaglandin receptors. The prostaglandin endoperoxides G2 and H2 are potent platelet stimulants (Hamberg et al., 1974;Willis et al., 1974), as is their major metabolic product, thromboxane A2 (Hamberg et al., 1975;Needleman et al., 1976). The study of these compounds is complicated by their lability in aqueous media, but analysis of their actions has been facilitated by the recent synthesis of stable analogues of prostaglandin H2 (Corey et al., 1975;Bundy, t Present address: